A key broadcasting arrangement between Sky and BT Sport that could save European club rugby is in the process of being brokered by the RFU chief executive, Ian Ritchie, although an agreement between the two companies is some way off.
The protracted European club rugby saga, which has threatened the Heineken Cup's future existence, has rumbled on for 18 months but Sky and BT are in tentative discussions to share the TV rights and potentially bring an end to the current impasse.
Both broadcasters have previously signed deals to show matches involving England's clubs from next season, the separate contracts representing a key factor in the impasse between the various unions and clubs, who disagree about commercial, structural and financial aspects of any future European tournament.
The Six Nations committee, which could take over the running of any future competition from European Cup Rugby, met in Paris on Wednesday with Ritchie saying that he was optimistic he could get Sky and BT to negotiate.
However, the Premiership Rugby board member Peter Wheeler admitted negotiations between the broadcasters would be "difficult and delicate". He said: "It seems to be clear that the largest problem is the fact that there are two TV deals, both of which cannot progress under the same terms that were envisaged.
"I was encouraged by what came out of the meetings this week. It seems to be the case that there are attempts to work towards some kind of compromise agreement. There is still a lot of detail to go through.
"Most of the other areas appear to be resolved, so this one is huge and it is a very difficult and delicate issue as well. No one underestimates the size of the task and there is still a lot of water to go under the bridge."
If the Six Nations committee replaces ERC as the new governing body, the TV rights issue still needs to be resolved, with both Sky and BT claiming exclusivity on future screening rights for European rugby.
On Wednesday, a Six Nations committee statement said: "The meeting [in Paris] was constructive and progress was made, with all parties working towards a European competition." Meanwhile the Welsh union said the meeting was "positive and constructive".
