In French rugby, all politics is local

HERE’S a news flash from France on attitudes to the Heineken Cup — it doesn’t move the discussion dial here. And it is seldom lunchtime chat either for the players with clubs who kick off the road to Cardiff this weekend.

If Racing Metro is a reliable weathervane, the Top 14 is, and will continue to be, the primary competition for all clubs in France. Yes, the Heineken Cup is a pot of gold in some respects but the Bouclier de Brennus is their passion. Like football’s Premier League, it is a marathon and only the best of the best survive to the spring. The French see the Heineken Cup as something of a lobsided mismash that is not catering for the elite when the likes of Zebre can be involved. From my point of view, I still think it is very important at least one Italian team remains in the Heineken Cup, whatever its format going forward.

They are still bullish here that the Anglo-French owners alliance will bring about the required alternations to the qualification and income criteria going forward. In ten years time, we may be looking back on a different set of records in a different competition. I just hope the young kids of today will not forget the 18 years of what has gone before if a new format emerges — the Leicester, Toulouse, Munster and Leinster sides that have given this great competition the rich heritage it enjoys.