THE INTERNATIONAL RUGBY BOARD and England’s Premiership clubs appear to be on a collision course as the global governing body signalled its opposition to an Anglo-French breakaway from the European Cup.
Both the European Cup and the second-tier European Challenge Cup face an uncertain future now English and French clubs have given notice to quit the existing European Rugby Cup competition structure at the end of the season amid a row over revenue distribution, qualification procedures and broadcast rights.
A European Cup without English and French clubs would leave a tournament made up of the same sides that compete in the domestic Celtic League, although there have been suggestions South African provincial teams could fill the gap caused by an Anglo-French breakaway.
However, IRB chief executive Brett Gosper insisted Wednesday rugby’s ruling body wanted a pan-European competition for the continent’s leading clubs to continue beyond this season and was not prepared to sanction an Anglo-French tournament. He said:
We don’t believe in an Anglo-French competition in itself. We strongly believe it should be a European competition and that’s what we would be supporting and throwing our weight behind. A full European competition is the right thing for the game of rugby in terms of development, growth and so on.”
“That’s how we see it,” added the 54-year-old Australian, who played for Paris’s Racing Club. “We urge all of those parties to get together and find some common ground because we believe it’s in the interests of the game to do so.”
Unsustainable
The English Premiership, while insisting teams from the other nations that compete in the European Cup — Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Italy — are welcome to join them, reiterated Wednesday the present situation is unsustainable and, at the very least, they will proceed with an Anglo-French event.
“On 10 September 2013, Premiership Rugby issued a statement confirming that the English and French clubs were instigating new competitions after the conclusion of unsuccessful ERC negotiations,” their latest statement said.
“The clubs see no purpose in new discussions starting as late as the end of October 2013, as proposed earlier this week (by ERC). The proposals from the French and English clubs for two new, strong competitions of 20 teams in each were tabled more than a year ago.
“The clubs reaffirmed their instruction to Premiership Rugby to take immediate action to put in place a competition for the 2014/15 season onwards to include the French and English clubs, and for this competition to be open to teams from other countries. It was confirmed that this should be progressed with urgency.”
Captains Aurelien Rougerie of Clermont and Jonny Wilkinson of Toulon run out past the Heineken Cup before the start of the 2013 final. INPHO/Cathal Noonan
The Premiership’s French equivalent, the Top 14, have long said they will not play in a European competition where no English clubs are involved.
Gosper was speaking at a news conference in London to mark two years until the 2015 World Cup in England, a milestone that has been overshadowed by the ongoing row over the future of the European Cup.
Nevertheless, he was confident of a resolution and insisted the dispute was a sign of the growing strength of rugby union, not a weakness. “We’re confident the different parties involved will find some common ground and that it won’t impact on the World Cup,” Gosper said.
“This is a negotiation where parties are seeking to get more than they had in the past. It’s a normal process. This is a young professional sport. The international game is growing, the club game is growing. Both sides have to accept the perspective of the other in order to reach some common ground.
“No one likes these sorts of disputes to play out publicly, but then again they’re the symptom of a very healthy growing sport and a sport that everyone’s interested in.”
Due to cutbacks the light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off
@Sean Moynihan: that light was turned off with the Rock of Gibraltar. It’s only the tunnel has become deeper and deeper and deeper. Be no getting out of it
Naive was being polite. Deluded more like.
What a joke Wayne Rooney worst manager ever. Useless at Derby worse in USA. Dragged Birmingham to relegation Landed Plymouth at bottom of league.
@Peter Byrne: so he knows what he’s talking about is what you’re saying
The club r getting so many decisions wrong at the moment in terms of player recruitment and r quite a few yrs behind those at the top,no doubt big Jim is trying to balance the books with redundancy etc but this summer is huge, personally a new keeper,right wing back, midfield and a top striker is a must,on the out tray.we’ll take your pick of 15 plus
@Declan O Connor: Sir Radcliffe is there to decimate the club. In 5 years there will be no more Manchester United football club
@Declan O Connor: Yeah and where will they get the money from for these purchases
@Jed Ward: ridiculous statement
@Joe Beirne: a huge worry as they r 1 billion in debt,those players that need moving r on huge contracts and no club wants them, this is where the huge cultural change that ineos I hope bring to the club,the glazers have destroyed the club
@Declan O Connor: every empire falls Deckie. We just lucky enough to be alive to see this sporting empire crumble.
@Jed Ward: u r definitely in the circus, a clown and a knob
@Declan O Connor: you’re way too kind Declan, I’m just glad that your witnessing your beloved Kings footy team implode before your eyes.
@Jed Ward: implode?? Hardly,go to bed u fool
@Declan O Connor: Declan my good friend. All is good with Man Utd. They’ve never been in a better place both on and off the football field. Things are looking up for them. As William Shakespeare would say “to bed or not to bed”. Love you x x x
@Jed Ward: You made me laugh tonight funny guy
The usual reactionary stuff here.
Amorim is spot on and is talking about the long term, not the short or medium term. He was explicit about this.
Despite their huge revenues (£667m) they’re in a bad place as they spent huge money on players not good enough and are hugely overstaffed. Fixing that will take time, and their goal clearly should be to get back to where they once were.
There doesn’t seem to be any light at the end of the tunnel for Utd
@robert kelly: oh it’s obviously the oncoming train
@Mick O’K: he needs time give him 2 more years and united will be great again.
United are KAPUT. They have proven you can’t buy success!!!
Amorin and dismiss in same sentence….
@Graham: do not dismiss Amorim, he’s doing a wonderful job! Is that the sentence?
There are some signs of sense. Obi and Heaven taken from Arsenal look decent. Youth team doing okay. Focus on buying best youth players and be patient as they develop. I am not totally devoid of hope if this is the approach. This season and next most likely are write offs.