Twickenham and the Guinness Premiership clubs are close to ending the fixture chaos and conflicting demands on leading players which have dogged England since the World Cup win in 2003.

Representatives of the 12 clubs met Rugby Football Union officials in Heathrow yesterday . The RFU had hoped to have the basis of an agreement to put to its council, which meets tomorrow to discuss the Union's consultative document , The Way Forward, but the 12 clubs endorsed the demand by their umbrella body, Premier Rugby, for clubs to be given shares and greater voting rights on the board of the organisation which runs the Heineken Cup, European Rugby Cup Ltd. The RFU is the only union which has opposed the change, prompting French clubs to withdraw from the tournament next season.

"We are very close to agreeing a package regarding the release of players to England," said a club official who was present at the meeting. " Everyone wants an end to club-country disputes and we feel that the Heineken Cup issue next week will show the RFU's commitment to peace. We have shown we are prepared to give ground."

The long form agreement between the RFU and the clubs, meant to cater for elite players, runs to the summer of 2009. Both sides want it replaced by the time of the council's next meeting, in June.

Ramiro Pez has been recalled for Italy's meeting with Wales in Rome tomorrow as one of three changes to the team that beat Scotland 37-17 at Murrayfield a fortnight ago. Geordan Murphy has been called into Ireland's squad for the meeting with Scotland as cover for Denis Hickie, who suffered a back spasm in training yesterday.