THE English Rugby Football Union is today expected to defy the other three home unions and stick with the £87.5 million contract it has negotiated with Sky even if it means England's expulsion from the Five Nations championship is confirmed.

The RFU's 18 strong executive committee meets this morning at the instigation of its president John Richardson following inconclusive talks between England and the other unions last week. Wales, Scotland and Ireland, with the blessing of France, served notice on England earlier this month that they would be dropped from the championship immediately unless the Sky deal was torn up and the RFU agreed to abide by the established tendering process for the championship's television contract.

At meetings in Cardiff and London last week, England offered to redistribute some of their Sky money among the other unions but that offer was abruptly rejected on the grounds that the television companies who tendered for the championship (the deadline is today) should all have their bids fully considered.

There is an acceptance among the other three unions that Sky would probably have a part to play, probably in a 50-50 deal with a terrestrial company, but they are not prepared to concede the equal shares principle which gives the four countries 25 per cent each of the contract.

"It is hard to see a way out for England unless there is a significant change in their attitude," said Ray Williams, one of Wales's representatives on the Five Nations committee. "Anyone who thinks it is a case of the RFU doling out some of its Sky money is missing the point: everything hinges on England unscrambling that contract.

Richardson went into last week's meetings optimistic that a compromise would be reached but he emerged considerably less sanguine about the chances of the impasse being resolved.

"The situation is so delicate I do not want to say anything which might upset negotiations, he said. "But we have to find the way ahead for the home unions and France. We have to talk to Sky as well."

Given the stance taken by the RFU last week, it is unlikely that its executive committee will today abandon the Sky deal it agreed just two months ago. The Welsh Rugby Union's general committee was given a briefing by its Five Nations' representatives this week and told that the two sides remained as far apart as ever.

The other unions suspect that England and Sky, have far wider ambitions than the championship. One of England's television contract negotiators, John Jeavons Fellows, was in Brisbane over the weekend for Australia's Tri-nations international against New Zealand and it was reported that he was seeking an alternative international programme for England should they remain in the European cold.

The chief executive of the Australian Rugby Union, John O'Neill, admitted that closer contact between the two hemispheres was on the agenda. "In the contract we have with News Ltd (sic), there is a best endeavours clause on the Tri nation agreement to try to organise an annual tournament between the winner of it and the Five Nations' champion. It will take some logistics to make it happen but it would be a great event.

. Scottish officials have been urged to give £4 million cash backing to up to 100 players 25 from each of the Scottish districts - so that they can turn professional.

A new report by the SRFU puts this full time plan at the top of a list of priorities for Scottish rugby.

"The demands of the open game mean that players must become full time professionals," said former Scotland international John Jeffrey. "That degree of full time professionalism. I can only realistically and effectively be developed at district level."