PRL wanted to replace the existing Anglo-Welsh Cup with a 28-game league season in order to secure up to £6million a year extra for the Premiership clubs.

"This week Premier Rugby Ltd made a revised proposal to the Rugby Football Union requesting us to review the Management Board decision of 28 January 2009 not to agree to an extra six rounds per season in the Guinness Premiership," read an RFU statement. "The RFU Management Board debated this proposal at great length on Wednesday and unanimously decided not to amend the agreement to allow this.

"The RFU met with PRL representatives yesterday afternoon to talk through their decision in more detail. Both parties have arranged to meet again soon to discuss possible solutions inside the current Agreement. The RFU remains hugely sympathetic to the challenges that all our clubs are facing in the current economic climate and are keen to work with the PRL on finding a solution that is right for them, right for England and right for the game"

But the president's council of the South African Rugby Union (Saru) instructed its staff on Thursday to try and organise a match between a South African 15 and the Maori as a warmup for the Springboks' series against the British and Irish Lions. The council accepted a recommendation from the management committee that Saru can accept matches against any team sanctioned by the national governing body of that team.

"Following recent media reports, Ulster Rugby would like to confirm and highlight, that it has not committed, in any way, to the Eastonville Stadium Project in East Belfast," said a club statement. "While Ulster Rugby Officials have previously met with the Eastonville Traders Ltd, the lack of any appropriate business case means that presently, their proposal does not form part of the plans that Ulster Rugby have submitted privately to the Sports Minister Gregory Campbell with regard to developing stadia to meeting the needs of rugby."

"At the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, Team GB will boast a hugely talented group of athletes and coaches, who have shown that they have the attitude and desire to achieve great things," he said. "It will be my job to focus on performance and to make sure that the BOA has given everything - absolutely everything - to deliver the best blueprint to allow our athletes and coaches to achieve their Olympic dreams."

IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset said, "We believe that Rugby's universal values of respect, friendship, team work and fair play are a natural platform from which to contribute to overcoming the social challenges that exist around the world. These values are also closely aligned to those of Peace and Sport so it is a natural association."

"We are looking forward to working with Peace and Sport and creating new opportunities for Rugby as a vehicle for social change. This agreement is further evidence of our commitment to promote peace and peace-building programmes around the world."