English clubs seek new Euro approach

Premiership Rugby have lost faith in the current Heineken Cup talks process and will call for change at today’s meeting in Dublin.

The English clubs have been frustrated by the lack of progress made on the future shape of European rugby in two lengthy stakeholder meetings, held in Dublin and Rome.

A third meeting, held last week in Paris without Premiership Rugby, saw the French clubs reject two different proposals for new-look competitions tabled by the Rabodirect PRO12 clubs.

Angry Premiership Rugby officials interpreted that meeting as an attempt to drive a wedge between the English clubs and their French allies.

Premiership Rugby decided not to pull out of today’s meeting – but they will press for a new approach in the hope of bridging an impasse which threatens the future of the Heineken Cup.

Premiership Rugby want to kick-start negotiations because they believe a solution needs to be urgently found, potentially by the end of the year.

The English and French proposal is for the PRO12 clubs to qualify for the Heineken Cup on merit – rather than be guaranteed places – and for the money to be divided equally between the three leagues.

The Anglo-French plan would see the Heineken Cup trimmed to 20 teams with four clubs dropping into a strengthened Amlin Challenge Cup. There would also be a third tournament created for clubs in developing nations.

The proposal is underpinned by a television deal with BT, which is worth up to £100million.