Gary Connolly and Kris Radlinski of Wigan and Hull's Alan Hunte were said to be the players involved, but the RFU were put off by a likely cost of around £2m.

The Daily Mail says the deals, which would have led to the trio being loaned out to union clubs, came close to being finalised.

Connolly: Had a successful spell with Harlequins in 1996

The idea reportedly had the support of national coach Clive Woodward and former Lions captain Bill Beaumont, the chairman of an RFU sub-committee responsible for England team affairs.

RFU chief executive Francis Bacon was quoted as saying: "This was a good idea and we would love to have got these guys across, but financially and commercially it just didn't stack up.

"I would have liked it to happen and so would the management board but we were simply not in a position to make a £2m commitment. We are going to lose £2m as it is this season, not make £2m."

Radlinski: One of the world's top young talents

Radlinski has a long-term contract with Wigan and Connolly recently signed a new three-year contract.

But Northampton were hopeful of taking on at least two of the three players until the RFU called a halt to negotiations.

"I first talked to Clive Woodward about this two months ago. The RFu was going to pay the transfer fees and we were going to pay most of the players' salaries," said Northampton owner Keith Barwell.