Blanco warns of French Euro ban

FORMER French star and current French league president Serge Blanco has warned tournament organisers European Rugby Cup (ERC) that French teams could boycott the competition in the 2007-8 season.

As rugby fans look forward to a mouthwatering weekend, former Biarritz great Blanco told French newspaper Midi Olympique he wanted changes in the way the Heineken Cup was organised, with particular reference to qualification. He even suggested a rival World Club Cup could be set up featuring 32 sides from the northern and southern hemispheres, saying that tournament would put “rugby at club level on a truly global scale”.

The Heineken Cup format is in place until June next year, and Blanco has suggested that English and French clubs should then take over the organisation of the competition in order to maximise its commercial potential. French clubs want qualification from the Celtic League reduced so only six teams can qualify for the Heineken Cup from Wales, Ireland and Scotland, rather than nine.