England officials angry at islanders

England's elite players have taken a distinct liking to the idea of an 11-week summer break, and their idea of a perfect world may materialise far sooner than even the most optimistic of them imagined following the official cancellation of England's scheduled visit to Fiji, Samoa and Tonga. Unless Twickenham officials succeed in striking an immediate deal with Argentina – and their negotiations are usually measured in centuries, not days – Clive Woodward's squad are unlikely to tour anywhere.

England's elite players have taken a distinct liking to the idea of an 11-week summer break, and their idea of a perfect world may materialise far sooner than even the most optimistic of them imagined following the official cancellation of England's scheduled visit to Fiji, Samoa and Tonga. Unless Twickenham officials succeed in striking an immediate deal with Argentina – and their negotiations are usually measured in centuries, not days – Clive Woodward's squad are unlikely to tour anywhere.

Woodward would hardly shout this from the rooftops – as recently as last week, he was telling all and sundry how utterly crucial he considered a summer tour to be in respect of his preparations for next year's World Cup – but the manager must be rubbing his hands with glee. No tour would mean a nice training camp in some Mediterranean paradise, a million miles away from camera lenses, press conferences and head-high tackles from Tongan centres the size of large villages.

Yesterday, the Rugby Football Union chief executive Francis Baron continued to insist that England had done everything possible to reach agreement with the islanders. He criticised Rugby World Cup officials for organising Pacific zone qualifying matches in the agreed "tour window" of June, and also pointed to the islanders' controversial decision to play three matches as a combined "Pacific Lions" team on dates that should have been reserved for England. The games are against the New Zealand Maori on 22 June, the All Blacks a week later and South Africa on 6 July.

The islanders themselves claim England were reluctant to travel in the first place – the tour has been on the International Rugby Board schedule for two years, yet no travel arrangements were ever put in place by the RFU – and were fearful of making a loss on any tour featuring an under-strength red rose team. Given that they have precious little money to lose, and that Woodward had indicated his intention of leaving England's most senior operators at home, they decided to press ahead with the Pac-Lions venture.

Baron described the situation as "a monumental mess", yet it might be considerably less messy if the IRB simply ordered the islanders to fulfil their obligations. The board has been quick enough to fine the RFU over perceived misdemeanours, none of which was remotely as serious as scrapping tour agreements in favour of galloping around the southern hemisphere playing unsanctioned matches in pursuit of a fast buck.

With England restricted to dates between 22 June and 6 July, the chance of fitting in two Tests against the Pumas in Argentina are rated no higher than 50-50: the South Americans have a match in South Africa and a home Test with France already scheduled for that period. Baron said he might consider a one-off Test with the All Blacks in New Zealand, but the last time Woodward took a second-string side to that neck of the woods, England leaked 104 points in 160 minutes of rugby.

Meanwhile, the 50 per cent of the Premiership embroiled in an increasingly neurotic scrap against relegation are unlikely to have their nerves soothed by any early decision on Rotherham's promotion credentials. Independent auditors will visit the National League One leaders next week to check whether Premiership criteria on ground facilities and staffing arrangements have been satisfied.

Rotherham are currently discussing a possible ground-share with the local football club, who play at Millmoor. Any deal signed by Sunday's deadline would allow the rugby club to play there as tenants and virtually guarantee them a Premiership place. However, a second deadline of the end of April is also available to the Yorkshiremen, although they would then require primacy of tenure at their chosen venue.