ENGLISH rugby officials will meet at yet another emergency meeting next Wednesday in an attempt to close the gap between them and Ireland, Scotland, Wales and France over the controversial £87.5 million Sky TV deal.

Yesterday the new president of the RFU, John Richardson, and Cliff Brittle, the chairman of the executive committee, were ordered by the other home unions to reconsider their position, which is so at. variance with the other three that England are currently excluded from the Five Nations Championship.

Last night the full Five Nations committee including France held a meeting in London and again emphasised that the onus was entirely on the English to find a settlement.