IRFU hopeful of Heineken Cup peace deal

The IRFU has welcomed a possible breakthrough in negotiations to reinstate next season’s Heineken Cup with “cautious optimism”.

A European Rugby Cup meeting will be held today in Dublin when it is expected to be announced that Europe’s flagship club competition will go ahead in its current format.

IRFU chief executive Philip Browne said: “There has been a huge amount of work behind the scenes over the last number of weeks by all parties to find a solution.