Browne blasts methods of rebels

The chief executive of the IRFU, Philip Browne, has blasted the sabre-rattling of English and French club rugby chiefs while the future of the Heineken Cup continues to be discussed, describing their contradictory actions as “deplorable”.

Bosses of the Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR) and Premiership Rugby have blocked the formulation of a new ERC Accord that would see the current European competitions continue after the 2013/2014 season, due to disagreements over the share of revenue, how teams qualify and scheduling.

On Tuesday, the malcontents announced they would be forming a tournament of their own for English and French clubs. That sparked fears the Heineken Cup would be no more at the end of this season or, at best, would become diluted and irrelevant.