English rugby union's top clubs have won their conflict with the Rugby Football Union after they agreed to the expansion of Premiership One and Two to 14 teams each and accepted the boycott of European competition next season.

After over a month of negotiations between panels representing the Union and clubs, the RFU Council confirmed a structure for the future that should last for seven years.

Aside from Europe and the size of the leagues, the other issues debated by the negotiating team were player contracts and divisional rugby.

There will be three-way contracts between the player, his club and the RFU, thus denying the Union the wish to have England players exclusively contracted, while divisional rugby is over for the foreseeable future.

There will be play-offs later this month between Bristol and London Scottish, and London Irish and Rotherham. There is no relegation from Premiership Two.

But on the horizon are the ominous threats of Fran Cotton's special general meeting to call a vote of no-confidence in the Council.

The issue of a possible International Board ban on English clubs having any contact with any of the other 80 Unions around the world because the clubs have challenged IB rules in Europe is also unresolved.