It now appears that the Waratahs and Reds will ignore an ARU directive over Australia players rest periods after the Waratahs' compromise solution to a bitter row was partly overruled on Friday.

The ARU announced on Friday that it had agreed to allow the 21 Wallabies on "restricted training activity" (RTA) to play the last 40 minutes of their respective final trial games.

This decision, the ARU said in a statement, was reached in conjunction with the Wallabies coaching staff and the four Super 14 coaches.

However, reports in the Australian media suggest that the Super 14 coaches, or at least some of them, are not going to abide by the directives.

The ARU's statement suggests that World Cup preparations rather than Super 14 success would be the priority.

However, it is clear from reports that the drawn out and heated public spat over restricted pre-season activities for front-line Wallabies is far from over.

According to AAP the Waratahs and Queensland were both livid that their desire for all players to be available for every Super 14 game has not been agreed upon.

The ARU and RUPA announcement that Wallabies be allowed to play the last half of their province's final trial match is a small concession, but is no guarantee that they will be available for all Super 14 fixtures.

RUPA, in a statement, supported the desire of Wallabies management to rest some of the top Wallabies from one match during the season to assist in regeneration and restoration leading towards the World Cup.

But New South Wales Rugby Union (NSWRU)  chief executive Fraser Neill was disgusted at the lack of communication by the ARU after believing NSW's compromise had universal appeal.

"We'll probably stand by what we proposed because that's what everybody agreed upon," he told AAP.

"We believe we took a step backwards in the best interests of the game so we'll maintain the position we put forward."

Queensland coach Eddie Jones concurred with NSW "100 per cent" and said the latest edict left a massive grey area about judging whether players were best served by one-game rests.

"I think this is terribly disappointing for rugby," Jones told AAP.

The issue will come to a crunch when Wallabies management order a player to rest and the decision is opposed by NSW or the Reds.

The Brumbies, in contrast, have supported the directive where the Test players will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis over the duration of the Super 14.

Pat Wilson, General Manager of the ARU's Rugby Unit expressed the ARU's disappointment that after many months of negotiations, some of the Super 14 coaches were not prepared to work together in the collective interests of rugby in a World Cup year.

"We maintain that the original RTA was in everyone's best interests and had been reached after exhaustive consultation with the Provinces.  We held the discussions in good faith and always sought to accommodate everyone's wishes," Wilson said in a statement.

"The success of the Provincial and National teams are not mutually exclusive.

"We appreciate there will always be tension between the National and Provincial teams around the issue of player resting, that is why we are sensitive to the interests of the Provinces and we continue to consult with them.

"Therefore at this time we will allow the Wallaby players, in consultation with the National and Provincial coaches, the respective Provincial and National High Performance Directors and medical staff, the option to play the last 40 minutes of each Province's final trial match."

RUPA also expressed their disappointment with the disagreement between the ARU and the state unions.

In a statement6 RUPA said it has been frustrating for the Wallaby players to have had discussions and negotiations on this issue continuing for over four months without any clear and decisive resolution.

"The RUPA understand that all nominated Wallaby players are to be  currently enjoying a three (3) week period of RTA's which only permits a graduated re-introduction to contact activities including tackling and scrummaging," the players' union said in a statement.

"The RUPA expect all State Unions to strictly adhere to these requirements and the RUPA will be monitoring each player's training workload and participation closely in the lead up to the Super 14. In preparation for the Super 14 however, the RUPA support each of the twenty two (22) nominated Wallaby players to play 40 minutes of the final Super 14 trial Match for their State Union.

"Furthermore the RUPA will be supporting the desires of Wallaby Team Management to rest some of the listed Wallaby players from one Super 14 Match during the season to assist in regeneration and restoration leading towards RWC 2007 provided there are solid grounds for doing so, that the correct protocols in terms of consulting with the State Unions are adhered to and the designated player in fact agrees to being stood down."

RUPA Chief Executive Tony Dempsey also expressed his disappointment.

"It is very disappointing that disagreement and uncertainty remains over the issue of Wallaby player rest and preparation," Dempsey said.

"In a World Cup year it would be hoped that all parties were willing to work together in the interests of the World Cup however clearly the ARU and State Unions are not singing from the same hymn sheet. The national interest should be given the upmost priority during a World Cup year.

"The Wallabies are the flagship of Australian Rugby in case anybody has forgotten. The RUPA expect that Australian Rugby can now once and for all  resolve the issues to ensure the players can focus on preparing for a successful season."