Euro chiefs head off rebel tournament threat

Apr 13 2007 Staff Reporter, Western Mail

EUROPEAN rugby chiefs last night moved quickly to remove the threat of a rebel tournament to rival the Heineken Cup.

Representatives of the six major European unions - England, France, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and Italy - and the International Rugby Board met in London yesterday to discuss the latest developments in a saga which has rocked the sport.

In addition to unanimously supporting plans for a European Cup next season - it currently will not involve boycotting top French and English clubs - they also confirmed the establishment of a new five-year European Rugby Cup participation agreement.

ERC shareholders had already agreed on Wednesday there would be a European competition next term, including teams from all six current participating nations.

But if Premier Rugby and their French equivalent Ligue Nationale de Rugby remain on the outside, then European silverware could be contested by National League One clubs such as Doncaster, Rotherham and Cornish Pirates, among others.

WRU group chief executive Roger Lewis said, "The mandate for a European cup competition to take place next season is now firmly established.

"Fans, players, sponsors and the media can now be confident and in no doubt that a competition will take place.

"It is also clear that the door is still wide open for discussions with the Guinness Premiership and French Championship clubs.

"We will continue to work flat out to ensure the best European cup competition possible will be staged next season."

It has also been confirmed that both the Rugby Football Union and French Rugby Federation will invite IRB chairman Dr Syd Millar to meet separately with Premier Rugby and LNR.

Millar blasted the Anglo-French alliance in a fiercely-worded statement earlier this week, slamming their "selfish" attitude.

Both the LNR and Premier Rugby blame the RFU's refusal to pass half their European Rugby Cup shares to the English clubs as the reason for their withdrawal.

The Anglo-French clubs insist the RFU in January reneged on a deal struck last autumn, something Twickenham top brass flatly deny.