A SQUABBLE over money could end the Five Nations International Championship, a series that has been on the rugby calendar for over a century.
Television rights worth £130 million were expected to be agreed when the contract with the BBC ends after next season's championship.
But disagreement over the cash share out may sound the death knell for the Five Nations.
Television money has always been negotiated as a group and split between Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales.
The French rugby union negotiates its own contract with French television.
But this consensus ended last Sunday following a meeting of the Five Nations Committee in Dublin. The English Rugby Football Union representatives greatly annoyed their Irish, Welsh and Scottish counterparts by saying that England would no longer be part of the arrangements and would make its own deal.
The RFU also demanded a larger share of the spoils, pointing to its larger population and viewing audience. It wanted a £60 million cut, leaving about £70 million to be shared three ways.
Its decision was dismissed as "wholly unacceptable" by the Irish, Scots and Welsh unions. They have also threatened retaliatory action that would affect England's involvement in international matches at all levels.
A Five Nations Committee statement issued yesterday indicated that the other countries in the championship "will now be requested to consider the future of the Five Nations Championship and additionally the question of relationships at all international representative levels".
The Irish Rugby Football Union president, Dr Syd Millar, described the latest problem as "a tragedy for rugby. I would urge England to think again about the consequences of their actions so that this issue can be resolved".
The IRFU will discuss the matter at a meeting on Friday night. England will have until the next meeting of the Five Nations Committee in Dublin on April 27th to come up with a proposal acceptable to the other nations.