Heineken Cup rescue bid

Apr 7 2007 Western Mail

ENGLAND, Scotland and Ireland last night joined forces with Welsh rugby chief Roger Lewis in a frantic 11th-hour bid to rescue the Heineken Cup.

Lewis' counterparts in charge of the other home unions echoed the call from the WRU boss to keep on talking and find an olive branch between them which might persuade French and English clubs to do a U-turn on their decision to pull out of next season's tournament.

The prospects of a deal, it would appear, are slim as the French and English giants were sticking to their guns by insisting they WON'T be participating in the club rugby showcase competition in 2007-08.

But Lewis and his counterparts at the other home unions are still refusing to give up hope and talks are planned next Wednesday and Thursday in Dublin in a last-ditch bid to resolve the issue and rescue the Heineken Cup.

The new move comes as the reality of what Welsh, Scottish and Irish rugby will face with no Heineken Cup began to bite yesterday.

Two of our regions, the Scarlets and Dragons, played Magners League matches last night against Scottish opposition, pictured above.

The Scarlets thrashed a Border Reivers side still hoping to be in existence next season at Stadey Park, while the Dragons lost against Edinburgh.

The low-profile games were light years away from the interest and intensity generated over the Scarlets' big sell-out Heineken showdown with holders Munster last weekend and their looming, mouth-watering semi-final clash against Leicester.

Even the Dragons' European Challenge Cup quarter-final win over Brive last weekend had a much bigger profile than the league game with Edinburgh.

WRU group chief executive Lewis has already warned that no Heineken Cup will mean a minimum £2m loss of revenue in Wales and admitted players' futures were at stake.

"We are deeply concerned about the impact on players, not only in Wales, but in Ireland, Scotland and perhaps England as well," he said.

Scottish rugby chiefs fear the Heineken snub could signal the end for professional rugby north od the border and are considering taking the matter to the International Rugby Board.

Influential Irish power-broker Mick Dawson, chief executive of Leinster, warned the absence of official European competition could be catastrophic for the game in the Celtic nations.

And, in England, RFU management board chairman Martyn Thomas claimed the Anglo-French clubs' stance could "devastate northern hemisphere rugby."

"We are concerned at the effect the English and French clubs' actions will have on the other shareholder unions in ERC, who will also have significant financial losses," he said.

Pembrokeshire-based Thomas hinted the RFU were looking at ways to help the Welsh, Irish and Scottish unions financially.

"We will be calling a meeting of these unions shortly to discuss ways in which European rugby can be supported," he declared.

English and French clubs moved professional rugby in the Celtic countries close to the abyss by voting to pull out of next season's Heineken and European Challenge Cups in a row over shareholding and voting rights.

The scale of the potential damage was becoming worse almost by the minute yesterday with the Scottish Rugby Union warning of a bleak future unless the English and French clubs can be persuaded to drop their threat to quit Europe.

"The French and English clubs' decision to withdraw from the two levels of European competition run by ERC will have a significant rugby and financial impact on participating countries, and especially for Scotland," said an SRU statement.

"It is clear that if there is no European competition in the 2007-08 season, Scottish Rugby's net revenue will reduce by over £2m.

"The future viability of the professional game in Scotland could be jeopardised if a successful outcome cannot be reached from these negotiations.

"Scottish Rugby will consider matters further after next week's Dublin meeting and an approach to the IRB is likely."

Dublin-based Leinster boss Dawson warned, "There are wider implications for the game, not just here, but in Wales and Scotland too.

"The potential loss of Heineken Cup games would be a huge blow. It has taken time for this competition to come to where it is today; to build the brand that makes it one of the most recognisable and popular tournaments in the world.

"To see that lost because of a power struggle is appalling.

"From the rugby perspective, one has to look at the danger of us not being able to sustain the professional game that has enabled us to compete so favourably at international level these last number of years.

"If we don't have good professional club rugby, then it's obviously going to weaken national sides.

"This appears to be about power between the English clubs and the RFU, and it seems it suits the French to support it because of their views on fixture congestion next season."

And he fears, "The rest of the countries could find themselves going down the tube."

The RFU and Premier Rugby were last night entrenched in their positions. But, publicly at least, they are hopeful a deal can be struck to rescue the competition.

Leicester chairman Peter Tom said yesterday, "There would have to be meetings in a very short period of time in which the current issues can be agreed.

"We need to be prepared to lock ourselves in a room for 24 hours to sort it out."

Premier Rugby chief executive Mark McCafferty said, "We are certainly willing to get involved in any negotiations to ensure the tournament's viability and success for next year onwards. We think the basis for that was agreed last year."

Thomas insists he would "never say never" and confirmed, "We remain available 24/7 to meet Premier Rugby and seek a solution."

But he also upped the ante by insisting Premier Rugby will not be given the shares they are seeking in ERC and revealing he is willing to open talks with England's Division One clubs about them competing in Europe next season.

"The disgraceful and selfish actions of the French and English clubs have fully justified our stance," Thomas blasted.

"How could you let people who behave like this to hold shares in the Heineken Cup?"