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.

However, Blanco’s suggestions don’t have unqualified approval even in England. While his plan is supported by Premier Rugby, the body which represents England’s top clubs, there is opposition from the RFU. The governing body in England feels an increase in the profile of the Heineken Cup would damage their own tournaments.

That hasn’t tempered Blanco, however.

“We could boycott the European Cup,” he said.

“The clubs will not lose money in the event of a boycott over the season 2007-8. We can do without the European Cup. We would take our losses, and we will gain dates for the calendar.”

Neither Ireland nor Wales agree with Blanco, and a meeting is scheduled for April 11 to try and resolve the differences. However, Blanco was adamant that the French must have more of a say in the tournament.

“The (French) clubs and the League want to be the players in a competition which French teams play an important role in and is now not managed appropriately to us,” he said.