Ruck and Maul: Yet another ding-dong between clubs and RFU could go five rounds

Barely has the ink dried on the new eight-year agreement between the Rugby Football Union and the clubs than a fresh confrontation looms on the horizon. Because of the recession, Premier Rugby want to increase the number of matches in the Guinness Premiership to "maintain jobs and avoid salary cuts". The salary cap would be frozen at £4 million over the next two seasons. The RFU, who are spoiling for a meeting with the clubs, are alarmed at Premier Rugby's plans to withdraw from the Anglo-Welsh tournament that replaces the EDF Energy Cup and instead add five rounds to the Premiership calendar. Apart from anything else, there is the issue of player welfare. However, as battered as he is, David Barnes, the Bath prop who is chairman of the Professional Rugby Players' Association, is not crying foul. "We're satisfied with the general thrust of the owners' proposals," he said. "The important thing is to ensure rugby stays in good shape over the long term."

Pirates enter the unknown

Indeed, that is the question which confronts the second-tier clubs who, with unfortunate timing, have been thrust by the RFU into a professional championship next season. With several clubs in the Guinness Premiership looking at a glass half-empty, the 12 survivors from National League One will be wondering how they are going to balance the books. The Cornish Pirates are one of the more vibrant outfits, but tomorrow at a public meeting in Penzance their benefactor, Dicky Evans, will tell the audience that the club need an extra £300,000. "There is a huge deficit between income and the cost of running a full-time club in the South-west," Evans says. "We might be a nice area of the world but being remote makes it difficult to attract players." Money will, and they can always throw in a surfboard for the Anzacs. At tomorrow's meeting "the floor is open for anyone to make points on anything apart from the playing affairs of the club". Democratic or what? Despite his reservations, Evans says the Pirates have "little choice but to enter the unknown". Welcome to the Bermuda Triangle League.

From Wales to Warrington

The Ospreys may be eyeing James Haskell, the Wasps back-rower who is out of contract at the end of the season, but the traffic on the M4 isn't all one-way. The 16-year-old Bridgend-born twins Ben and Rhys Evans have not only been lost to union but to South Wales. They began playing rugby league three years ago at Brynteg High School, and Warrington spotted them in the curtain-raiser to the 2005 Challenge Cup final at the Millennium Stadium. They will join the Warrington academy and the family will move up north. "It was the boys' decision," said their mother, Jane Evans. "They decided they wanted to take things seriously."

Marshall's way with words

The way he has jumped ship from Montpellier, you might have thought Justin Marshall was a Cornish Pirate in the making. At the age of 35, the former All Black has been released from his contract to join Saracens. "This decision works well for Montpellier, Saracens and myself," he said. "Montpellier have been very attentive in their listening and have facilitated me a quick decision." That's one way of describing a disagreement with coaches.

t.glover@independent.co.uk