Players' union chief executive Damien Hopley believes England captain Martin Corry and his professional colleagues have a crucial role to play in brokering a peace deal between the Rugby Football Union and Guinness Premiership clubs.

Hopley feels the central issue of elite player management has been forgotten as the two sides have become bogged down in unpleasantly public political argument and threats of legal action.

The bitter divide seemed wider than ever last night after Premier Rugby (PRL), the clubs' umbrella body, declared: "The RFU have a lot to answer for".

Hopley has had enough of the political posturing and called on both the RFU and PRL to allow the players their say in the belief it will lead the warring factions to a solution. "The central issue is not club versus country, it is actually about the guys in the middle," said Hopley.

"All the players are frustrated about the current impasse and we certainly feel that if we get the playing issue sorted, a lot of the other issues - the commercial and structural issues - will actually fall into place.

"You feel a concern that everyone is getting caught up in the political issues and we should return to the rugby.

"I think the players will ultimately play a central role in bringing the sides together."

Hopley reserved some harsh words for the PRL's negotiating team and the RFU representatives who are yet to make any headway.

"We are not a million miles apart but, unfortunately, both sides are entrenched now and lawyers are involved. I think this is an unprofessional way for sport to handle itself," he said.

PRL dug their feet in, however, with chief executive Mark McCafferty declaring: "No-one should be left in any doubt that we are prepared to take actions necessary to take to protect the club game."

McCafferty outlined PRL's willingness to take the RFU to a European court to reclaim £120,000 of British & Irish Lions cash that has been withheld from Sale, Leicester and Wasps in a dispute over rest days for England players.

And he rejected strongly claims from RFU chief executive Francis Baron that England's World Cup chances are in grave danger.

McCafferty averted fears the clubs will not release players for England duty by confirming that, if all else fails, they will revert back to sticking by the Long Form Agreement that was agreed in 2001.

But PRL chairman Tom Walkinshaw stated forcefully that no players would be released for the Test against New Zealand, pencilled in for next autumn to celebrate the opening of the new south stand at Twickenham.

He added: "We have no obligation to release players for that fourth Test match. If the RFU have signed an agreement to play the game, they are in contravention of the LFA.

"We are contracted to release players for eight Tests a season and that would make nine. We cannot be bought off. There are too many issues here."