RUGBY UNION: England shirt deal stays up for grabs

Gloomy prognostications about a sponsorship deal to enable the Rugby Football Union to put England players on pounds 40,000-a-season contracts were turned on their head yesterday, writes Steve Bale.

The RFU is so sure of itself that not only did Tony Hallett, the secretary, assure the doubters that the deal would finally be struck next month but he also indicated that there now would be a separate jersey sponsorship with evident potential to augment the sums available.

"We wanted more for the shirt deal than was on the table, so the shirt is still up for sale," he said. This is especially good news for those who have marked the official end of amateurism by either giving up or cutting back on work to concentrate on rugby. To Catt, Richards, Bayfield, Tony Underwood, De Glanville and Andrew can now be added Kyran Bracken.

Last month Hallett announced that there would be a deal, though it was beginning to look as if nothing would be finalised for the England-South Africa match on 18 November. After yesterday's remarks, however, Hallett will be embarrassed this is the case, even if the chance of England's having a corporate logo emblazoned on their jerseys by then is slim.

The growing influence of lucre was further shown by the disclosure by Peter Wheeler, the Leicester president, that he had had an approach from "a gentleman with lots of money" who wished to become involved in the club.