PRL boss Mark McCafferty has slammed the RFU for jumping the gun © Getty Images

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Teams: England

First Division Rugby (FDR) and Premier Rugby (PRL), the organisations representing the interests of the clubs at the top of the English game, have both voiced their opposition to the proposals for new competitions unilaterally publicised today by the Rugby Football Union (RFU).

In a joint statement they said the RFU proposals to introduce a new competition for National Division One clubs have already been rejected by FDR clubs by a majority of 12 to 4 and are also opposed by the PRL clubs. They also clarified that under the recently concluded Heads of Agreement between the RFU and PRL, it is in fact for FDR to make proposals which should then to be considered by the RFU.

The statement continued, "Regrettably, the RFU has also refused to discuss these proposals with the Professional Game Board (PGB), set up under the new 8 Year Agreement to address exactly these issues. This is despite the fact that the PGB's 2008/9 objectives, agreed by all parties, include the future of FDR competition.

"Similarly, any new Anglo Welsh Cup competitions have so far only been the subject of preliminary discussions. The PGB is due to consider the next set of draft proposals at its meeting on November 27 and only if these are agreed, do they then need to be referred to the respective PRL, FDR and RFU Boards and to the Welsh Regions."

FDR Chairman Geoff Irvine said, "We've laid out to the RFU Council our objections to these proposals and why we believe it would be asking our clubs to commit financial suicide. We don't understand why the RFU is in such a mad rush to try to force through a restructuring, particularly in such challenging economic times.

"Instead, Council should ask for common sense to prevail, for proper and measured consultation to take place between the RFU, FDR and PRL and for the Professional Game Board to then be allowed to do its job and make a recommendation".

PRL Chief Executive Mark McCafferty said, "When we agreed the new deal with the RFU, the Professional Game Board was set up with representation from the Union, PRL, the FDR clubs and the Players to look at exactly this type of issue; the right mix of competition for England and its top tier clubs.

"New competitions cannot be forced through unilaterally against the wishes of their proposed participants. It's a nonsense if the PGB and its expertise is being bypassed and it would be in serious conflict with the new Agreement".