Woodward and clubs agree compromise over players

The "elite player programme" deal struck by representatives of the Twickenham hierarchy and the owners of the Premiership clubs does not signal the end of rugby politics, any more than the collapse of the Berlin Wall marked the end of history, but there is at least an outside chance that after six years of boardroom squabbling, the professional game in England will present a united face to the world. "The club versus country argument is over in our sport," pronounced Clive Woodward, the national manager, yesterday. Jealous, Mr Eriksson?

With the Rugby Football Union holding the purse strings and Woodward tugging gently at the heartstrings of his players, the clubs were always likely to give the authorities much of what they wanted during the build-up to the 2003 World Cup. They have agreed to a schedule of 20 England training days, outside Test weeks – a figure initially quoted by Woodward as a bare minimum, but perfectly acceptable now after months of fevered debate. They have also swallowed whole the fact that those who make England's 30-man party for the tournament in Australia next autumn will miss the first 12 Premiership matches of the season – quite a sacrifice, all things considered.

In return, they have been given an assurance that the RFU will not attempt to impose central contracts on the top end of the sport. "Such contracts are generally found in sports where the level below international competition is not viable," said Howard Thomas, the chief executive of Premier Rugby. "Professional club rugby in England is viable. We have shown it to be so."

Woodward described central contracts as "unnecessary", a view shared by the RFU chairman, Graeme Cattermole. Given Cattermole's long association with the hawkish wing of the union, this was a significant step.

Last season, Woodward bemoaned the lack of regular access to his Test squad and blamed England's mild slump in fortunes on the absence of a workable agreement with the clubs. Famously, the Bath contingent failed to show for one session, citing the proximity of a Heineken Cup quarter-final with Llanelli. That incident brought the access issue to a head and generated a good deal of bad feeling on both sides.

The next collision – if, indeed, there is to be a next collision, now that the sides have kissed and made up – will be over Sunday fixtures. Understandably, Woodward believes his preparation for a Saturday Test is seriously undermined when half his players are knocking seven bells out of each other the previous Sabbath. Apart from anything else, very little contact work can be done on a Monday when large numbers are still deep in recovery. In an ideal world, there would be no Sunday matches leading into Test week.

"We're not going to take a sledgehammer to this, and we won't be involving the players in the issue," Woodward said. "Players should never be used for leverage purposes. Yes, I would like some Sunday fixtures rearranged, and if it can be done, great. If it can't, it can't."

England's first international of the season, against the All Blacks, takes place on 9 November, and needless to say, there are Premiership games involving Newcastle (Jonny Wilkinson) and Saracens (Richard Hill, Kyran Bracken) the previous Sunday. If those matches are not shifted, Woodward's important Monday session will be marred. The New Zealanders, meanwhile, have already been weakened. Reuben Thorne, their captain, will not tour because he requires surgery on an injured ankle.