It now looks certain that the Heineken Cup will continue into next season.

Progress has been made “on a number of issues” in the ongoing tussle surrounding European club competitions, independent mediators Graeme Mew and Stephen Drymer said on Thursday.

To have a negotiating position you must have something to concede.

Premiership Rugby and its French counterparts have been accused of showing a lack of respect during an increasingly bitter row over the Heineken Cup’s future.

The French Rugby Federation is on a collision course with clubs from the Aviva Premiership and Top 14 as the dispute over the future of the Heineken Cup continued to escalate.

European Rugby Cup has appointed an independent mediator in their attempts to thrash out a new tournament agreement for the Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup competitions.

Premiership Rugby will step up plans to create a new European competition - despite the International Rugby Board declaring they would oppose a format composed exclusively of Anglo-French clubs.

The International Rugby Board have entered the dispute over the future of the Heineken Cup by declaring their support for a European tournament.

European Rugby Cup chairman Jean-Pierre Lux has described the ramifications of a proposed Anglo-French tournament as “detrimental” to the world game.

RFU chief executive Ian Ritchie has demanded an ‘urgent’ resolution to the argument over the Heineken Cup as ERC chiefs called a meeting between all parties for October 23 in Dublin.

The prospect of an agreement to save the Heineken Cup looks bleak after the two warring sides fired public broadsides at each other over their behaviour during the past four days.

Leinster tighthead prop Jamie Hagan will make his exit from the province at the end of the season after agreeing a three year deal with London Irish.

They’re at it again!

The future of the Heineken Cup and European rugby in general remains uncertain after English clubs’ governing body, Premiership Rugby, announced it has agreed a new £152m deal with broadcaster BT.

European rugby suffered another divisive blow last night after England’s Premiership clubs announced a new television deal with BT that included the sale of British broadcast rights to its own Heineken Cup matches.