Premier Rugby Limited (PRL) has this morning been advised by the Chairman of the RFU Management Board, Martyn Thomas, that the Board is treating the Long Form Agreement (LFA) signed by all parties in July of 2001 as terminated and will seek a declaration from the high court that it is entitled to act in this way.

PRL has advised the RFU Management Board representatives that it does not accept the RFU position and will therefore oppose the RFU in the action that the RFU Management Board has initiated.

PRL greatly regrets that the RFU Management Board has decided on this course of action particularly since the Clubs have continued to hold to their August good faith offer of releasing players for extra training days, which begin next week, ahead of the Autumn Internationals.

PRL and its Clubs have also maintained their commitment to a total of sixteen training days, which is in addition to each of the weeks before the eight internationals and which is what was in place last year. It is also what had been deemed only 12 months ago by the RFU to be sufficient to prepare fully for Rugby World Cup 2007.

For further information, please contact:
Simon Lewis/Laura Bogard
Premier Rugby Communications Department
+44 (0)20 8334 8828 or 8848
slewis@premierrugby.co.uk or lbogard@premierrugby.co.uk

http://www.guinnesspremiership.com/