Prospect of a British League quickly recedes

Not unexpectedly, the prospect of a half-baked British League all but vanished yesterday when the English RFU chairman, Brian Baister, admitted that Twickenham and their Welsh counterparts could not agree even on the make-up of a cross-border competition.

Confirming that Baister and the WRU chairman, Glanmor Griffiths, had met on Monday, a statement on behalf of Baister recognised "the logistical and other difficulties that both sides faced in trying to put the competition in place for the coming season".

Furthermore, the Welsh had apparently requested that the RFU should instruct their militant clubs to withdraw their European Commission complaint against Twickenham's ruling authority, and that eight Welsh clubs be admitted to an Anglo-Welsh league. Both requests were unacceptable to the RFU.

But the statement steered clear of mentioning a British and Irish League, as suggested by the Scottish Union, and representatives of the four home unions are expected to meet in London today to discuss the Murrayfield initiative.

Nonetheless, the same logistical difficulties remain, for the Welsh would not want their participation limited to just four clubs, and, similarly, the Irish would be canvassing for the inclusion of all four provinces.

As to how any or all of the recent off-field manoeuvres might facilitate the English clubs in returning to the European Cup fold, the latter's umbrella group, ESDR, yesterday confirmed it would be attending a meeting called by Baister tomorrow, but made no mention of the European Cup.

The draw for the European Cup is still expected to be released tomorrow.