Unions stand firm on Euro flagship

Apr 12 2007 Simon Thomas, Western Mail

WELSH rugby chiefs were last night celebrating the news that there will definitely be a European Rugby Cup next season.

Even if England and France's top clubs go ahead with their boycott, there will still be a tournament featuring teams from all six countries that took part in this year's Heineken Cup.

The unions of those six nations - England, France, Wales, Ireland, Scotland and Italy - have decided to stand firm in the face of the rebel clubs and go ahead with the competition regardless.

If the likes of Leicester, Wasps and Gloucester don't return to the fold, it means clubs from National League One such as Doncaster, Rotherham and Cornish Pirates would provide English representation.

There is also the bizarre prospect of Heineken semi-finalists Northampton, presently propping up the Premiership, being relegated and then gaining an invitation to participate in Europe.

In France, Toulouse, Stade Francais and Biarritz could be replaced by the likes of big-spending Toulon and other second division sides.

It remains unclear whether Heineken would continue to sponsor the competition in such circumstances or whether Sky would pay to televise it.

But, come what may, WRU chief Roger Lewis insists the news that the European Cup has been saved is a huge plus for Welsh rugby.

Lewis was one of the bosses that took the decision to go ahead regardless at a meeting of ERC shareholders in Dublin yesterday, which was attended by representatives from the six participating unions, plus English and Italian club representatives.

Lewis said, "This is a significant step forward from the gloomy picture that we faced last week with the announcement that the French and English clubs will boycott next season's Heineken Cup.

"It was vitally important for the players, coaches and fans to know that there will be a European competition next season.

"That is the starting point for us all, as is the fact that each of the six participating unions has agreed to enter teams.

"Very clear lines have been drawn. The six unions have stood together shoulder-to-shoulder to ensure that the competition will continue.

"What will follow is the fine detail, but the Welsh regions can look forward to playing European rugby next season.

"We will weather this storm just as we have weathered storms in the past.

"We have been here before in Europe. There were only teams from four nations in the first year and we had to live without the English clubs in the 1998-99 season.

"But the show went on - and the Heineken Cup has grown in stature year on year as a result."

Losing the competition altogether would have cost each of the four Welsh regions at least £500,000.

While it's uncertain just how much revenue a diluted tournament would generate, Lewis insists the financial picture now looks much brighter.

"Last week we made contingency plans to ease the financial pain our regions would feel if there were no European tournaments," he said.

"Now they can look forward to a much brighter financial picture next season - thanks to this declaration.

"As a union, we will continue to discuss, in conjunction with our regions, every possible way to maintain the highest standard of European competitions.

"Ideally we would like the Guinness Premiership and French Championship clubs to remain in the fold and the door remains open for that possibility.

"However, there is now a clear mandate for a European competition to take place next season and we will work as hard as possible to ensure it is a success."

The news was also welcomed by RFU management board chairman Martyn Thomas.

"We are delighted there will be a European club tournament involving English clubs next season," he said.

"We hope that these will be from the Premiership, and as rugby's national governing body, we are committed to English club participation in the competition."

Mark McCafferty, the chief executive of clubs' organisation Premier Rugby, who attended the ERC shareholders' meeting, believes the talks did not produce any "seismic shift."

He said, "There were reasonable discussions, with an exchange of views and ideas. People are still making suggestions, but I wouldn't say there was any seismic shift."