Grass-roots clubs' cash fight

England's militant grass-roots rugby clubs have called for a Special General Meeting in a bid to force the Rugby Football Union to delay signing a 10-year agreement that would hand over an estimated £250 million to the top clubs.

The RFU Council meets on Thursday and will be asked to endorse the Heads of Agreement document thrashed out by the RFU management board and the Zurich Premiership clubs.

This agreement will include a 50 per cent share for the top clubs of any new television deal covering pre-Christmas internationals at Twickenham and could push their individual funding up to £2m a season.

The RFU Reform Group, who have consistently opposed handing control of the professional game over to a nine-man commission, are behind a request for an SGM which more than 150 clubs have backed.

The RFU have 14 days to produce a date for the SGM where concerned clubs, including Blackheath and Ross-lyn Park, can raise their fears.

Under the agreement, management of the professional game will be handled by the commission - effectively giving the top end of the game the control they want. But the bulk of England's junior clubs fear rugby's grass roots will be starved of cash.

Martyn Thomas, chairman of the Reform Group, said: "We want the RFU Council to understand just how many member clubs are against the deal. It's morally wrong to sign."