Two biggest bullies in the yard make European power play

The future of the Heineken Cup, as it’s presently constituted, appears doomed after England’s Premiership clubs yesterday directed their representative body to take “immediate action” to put in place a new European competition for the 2014/15 season.

It followed a statement from the French clubs proclaiming solidarity with their English counterparts.

Premiership Rugby claimed ongoing discussions with the ERC and other stakeholders have been unsuccessful. “The clubs can only conclude that negotiations on any new European agreement have now ended,” it said.