Elite seek legal advice over 'Rotherhamgate'

Diplomatic affairs between Twickenham and the privately-owned Premiership clubs cannot be said to have reached an all-time low: during Cliff Brittle's inflammatory spell as chairman of the Rugby Football Union in the mid-1990s, relations were positively subterranean. But the clubs were unusually grumpy yesterday as they reacted to the move by Robert Horner, the union's disciplinary officer, to order an independent inquiry into what will inevitably become known as Rotherhamgate – or, more poetically perhaps, Duckworthgate.

"Premier Rugby is dismayed at the RFU's decision, given its meeting with Robert Horner on Tuesday," the clubs said in a statement. "No evidence was presented to support the allegations that payments were made to Rotherham. We will continue to vigorously deny these allegations and are seeking legal advice."

Horner launched the inquiry, under the chairmanship of Mr Anthony Arlidge QC, following a meeting with the Worcester owner, Cecil Duckworth, last week. Duckworth, a generous benefactor to the National First Division club in recent seasons but repeatedly frustrated by his team's lukewarm promotion challenges, claims he has information, supplied by one of the big players among the Premiership owner-investor fraternity, to the effect that the top flight conspired to throw Rotherham a bung in return for their rejection of a place in the élite league, thereby sparing one major club the financial trauma of relegation. As it turned out, Rotherham failed to meet entry criteria and stayed put anyway.

Mr Arlidge has the authority to call witnesses from any or all of the Premiership clubs, as well as from the National First Division and the RFU. It remains to be seen whether the financiers – the likes of Gloucester's Tom Walkinshaw, Saracens' Nigel Wray, Bath's Andrew Brownsword and Northampton's Keith Barwell – will be ordered to open up their books for a rigorous examination of last season's spending.

Meanwhile, the RFU's management board insisted yesterday that automatic one-up, one-down between the Premiership and National First Division remains in force for this season, always assuming the First Division champions meet the stringent criteria agreed two seasons ago. A significant majority of the élite clubs are keen to expand the Premiership to 14, with no relegation. The change would also be welcomed by the more powerful First Division teams, some of whom are keen to see a 16-team Premiership with a conference format, along the lines of the French model.

Four of these more ambitious clubs – Rotherham, Worcester, Exeter and Orrell – play Premiership opposition in the sixth round of the Powergen Cup this weekend. The latter will face a Northampton side captained for the first time by Andrew Blowers, the former All Black flanker who, on the evidence of the campaign thus far, is playing as well as any blind-side specialist in the world. Five internationals – Ben Cohen, Paul Grayson, Tom Smith, Steve Thompson and Steve Williams – will start on the bench, but that will be of cold comfort to the Lancastrians. The call-ups include another New Zealand cap, Bruce Reihana, at full-back, and a former Wallaby, Peter Jorgensen, in the centre.

Gloucester, who welcome Exeter to Kingsholm, have also honoured an influential import by awarding him the captaincy. Terry Fanolua, the Samoan centre, will lead the Premiership pacesetters, having served five years in the ranks. Phil Vickery, the regular captain, has been given a breather ahead of the big match at Northampton on Saturday week.