Ashton puts England job on the back burner

Most important rugby matters are about as clear as mud right now. Just as Bath were insisting no formal approach had been received from Twickenham in respect of their head coach, Brian Ashton, who is confidently expected to be England-bound sooner rather than later, the Premiership fraternity were revealing details of revamped qualification arrangements for next season's Heineken Cup - criteria that gave Bath, among the worst-performing teams in the top division, the chance to break into the élite European tournament at the expense of better-placed rivals.

Ashton was reluctant to discuss England matters yesterday. Most people at the Recreation Ground, including the former national coach Jack Rowell, believe the Rugby Football Union is preparing to bring Bath's strategist-in-chief back into the Test fold, some four years after an abrupt exit in the middle of the 2002 Six Nations Championship. There were strong rumours that the Bath chairman and principal financier, Andrew Brownsword, hadagreed a compensation package in return for his employee's services. Yet Ashton offered only a passable impersonation of Manuel in Fawlty Towers. "I know nothing," he said, repeatedly.

He did, however, suggest that his Bath side had only to beat Biarritz in this weekend's Heineken Cup semi-final to qualify for the 2006-07 competition. This was confirmed by Premier Rugby, the leading clubs' umbrella organisation, who sprung a surprise by tinkering with their own rules at an unusually late stage.

If the West Countrymen make the final, England will have seven Heineken places, rather than the guaranteed six. Instead of awarding the extra slot on the basis of league performance, Premier Rugby will give it to the side responsible for securing it - that is, Bath. This is not good news for the likes of Northampton and Saracens, especially if Newcastle or Worcester, two more clubs at the wrong end of the Premiership table, win the European Challenge Cup and earn a Heineken place as of right. As things stand, the top five Premiership finishers will make it through. Northampton are sixth, Saracens seventh.

Ashton was not much interested in the events of next season as he cast an eye over the prospects for Saturday's match with the Basques in San Sebastian. "It will be a unique occasion, one that offers us a phenomenal opportunity," he said. "If a player can't get excited for a match like this he's in the wrong profession."

Leeds have reluctantly placed their scrum-half Justin Marshall on the transfer list. The former All Black expressed a desire to leave a year early after last weekend's round of league games, which condemned Leeds to a spell in National Division One. YesterdayGary Hetherington, the chief executive, said: "We have agreed to make him available, but only on terms that suit the club."

* Jonah Lomu has played his last game for Cardiff after breaking his ankle in the recent game against the Borders. The New Zealander will miss the last four games of the season.