Peter Jackson: Has the map of European club rugby shrunk to France and Ireland?

The Champions’ Cup’s reappearance this weekend from six months of hibernation provides stark confirmation of how the elite European game below Test level has shrunk.

ALL ABOARD: At the launch of the Investec Champions Cup in London were (back row L-R) Stormers’ Ben-Jason Dixon, Ulster’s Stuart McCloskey, Racing 92’s Ibrahim Diallo, Connacht’s Paul Boyle, Cardiff’s Josh Turnbull, Harlequins’ Stephan Lewies, Munster’s Craig Casey, Saracen’s Owen Farrell, Bristol Bears’ Fitz Harding, RC Toulon’s Teddy Baubigny, Leicester Tigers’ Hanro Leibenberg, Stade Francais Paris’ Laurent Panis, Bayonne’s Reece Hodge, and Stade Toulousain’s Richie Arnold. Front row: Vodacom Bulls’ Khutha Mchunu, Sale Sharks’ Ben Curry, Bath Rugby’s Ben Spencer, Northampton Saints’ Juarno Augustus, Stade Rochelais’ Raymond Rhule, Leinster’s Garry Ringrose, Glasgow Warriors’ Stafford McDowall, Lyon’s Jordan Taufua, Bordeaux Bègles’ Maxime Lamothe, and Exeter Chiefs’ Jack Yeandle. Picture: Inpho/Billy Stickland

In the beginning the map of European Cup rugby stretched from Limerick to Constanta, from the Shannon over the Alps to the Black Sea.

Regrettably, the cartographers have been busy carting off chunks of the old continent ever since. More regrettably still, there is no sign of their work coming to an end any day soon.