Top-level Twickenham discussions have moved Rob Andrew's blueprint for the future of English rugby closer to reality.

Andrew, chairman of a Twickenham task force to thrash out a future for the domestic game, has been asked to organise a meeting next week as the Rugby Football Union looks to press ahead on fixing a schedule for next season.

Gloucester's millionaire owner and EFDR chairman Tom Walkinshaw, the mastermind behind the proposed £85million British League, and EFDR acting chief executive Howard Thomas made a presentation to RFU Management Board members yesterday.

But Andrew's proposal, which includes playing the Premiership in one block between September and January next season, followed by the Heineken Cup and then the Six Nations Championship, continues to win RFU approval as the best way forward.

The RFU, stressing that aspects of the Walkinshaw plan are worthy of further consideration, are optimistic that a solution can be reached next week.

Andrew's plan is for an English league of 12 teams, while Walkinshaw's plan is for a franchised league of 16 teams drawn from England, Scotland and Wales.

An RFU statement issued last night read: "The Management Board discussed at length the Rob Andrew Working Party progress report and the EFDR presentation.

"The RFU Management Board's view remains that the Rob Andrew plan is the best way forward for the development of English rugby over the long term.

"However, it now appreciates and believes that there are valuable elements of the EFDR proposals, which warrant further consideration to make an even stronger proposition for English rugby.

"To move matters speedily forward the RFU Management Board will ask Rob Andrew to convene a meeting early next week to which Tom Walkinshaw and other senior EFDR representatives will be invited. The aim is to reach an agreement which will provide a new structure for the game in England."

The RFU Council is due to meet on Friday, February 4 when a final blueprint could be rubber-stamped.

It now looks as though the domestic programme could be resolved before England open their Six Nations campaign against Ireland at Twickenham the following day.