RFU and clubs on collision course

England's top clubs are on course for a showdown with the Rugby Football Union that could end with a breakaway.

The English First Division clubs, who have invested £150m in the pro game, held an emergency meeting yesterday to discuss the latest crisis, triggered by the Second Division's insistence on promotion and relegation this season of two up, two down .

The top clubs have offered one automatic promotion place this season and a play-off with the bottom club in the following seasons.

However, the situation has been complicated by the special general meeting called for next month by over 100 disgruntled amateur clubs.

This was the final straw for the clubs and Standard Sport understand a new hard-line stance will be revealed by them in the next 48 hours with the slogan: 'If the RFU can't govern the sport, we will govern it ourselves.'

Leading First Division figures insist this doesn't mean a complete break away from the RFU or a threat to withhold England players from international duty - options that the clubs could take.

A leading official said: "It's a farce. We've made a huge investment, seen the England team benefit hugely from the £150m and then we're told by the RFU the Second Division hold all the cards."