Prosperous future and no farewell kiss from French, insist Cup chiefs

HEINEKEN Cup chiefs insist that the competition will continue to prosper and have dismissed claims that French clubs threatened to pull out of next year’s competition.

French National League President Serge Blanco and several leading English clubs have voiced concerns about their future participation in Europe’s premier club system.

But the competition’s governing body European Rugby Cup Ltd are completely satisfied with its wellbeing and see no reason why it shouldn’t continue to prosper in the months and years ahead.

“We have heard nothing official from either the French or English clubs,” said ERC Communications Manager John Corcoran last night.

“All countries are looking ahead to the ending of the existing ‘Paris Accord’ next June. That process is nearing completion. It is a matter for the French and English to handle among themselves and consequently not something that it would be appropriate for us to comment upon.”

Blanco believes there is more money to be made from their own domestic league and constantly refers to the 80,000 people who thronged the Stade de France for a game between Stade Francais and Toulouse last season.

From time to time, he has used that occasion and a few others of a similar nature to send warning shots in the direction of the Heineken Cup and has had the support of not just several of his member clubs but a number in the English League as well.

Reports from France insist that the 2007/08 Heineken Cup is in jeopardy because some of their clubs are unhappy with how many games they will play next season.

The perception is that axing the Cup would free up several weekends, meaning their leading players could take part in more matches and so protect their television deal, which creates more revenue than the Heineken Cup deal.

And, of course, they will be under even greater pressure than usual next season because France is hosting the World Cup in September and October, and accordingly delaying the start of their club season.

For their part, England’s clubs are in dispute over the Cup’s future and the situation is not helped by the ongoing row between Premier Rugby and the Rugby Football Union (RFU).

Premier Rugby, which represents England’s top-flight clubs, wants them to become direct stakeholders, while the RFU opposes giving them a greater say in running the Cup.

Reports from England indicate Premier Rugby is discussing the matter with their French counterparts.

“The French clubs are supporting our position that we need to become stakeholders,” claims chief executive Mark McCafferty.

The RFU says it will not negotiate a new agreement with the English clubs until they agree a new arrangement over the management of elite players, and this has led to an impasse between the two sides.

“The RFU is linking this to other issues and we’re saying they shouldn’t be doing that — this should be a self-standing issue,” said McCafferty. “The Heineken Cup is a priority tournament and we’ve got to get a formula with which everyone is in agreement.”