RFU chief gives provinces hope

RFU chief executive Ian Ritchie has demanded an ‘urgent’ resolution to the argument over the Heineken Cup as ERC chiefs called a meeting between all parties for October 23 in Dublin.

Ritchie, the man who oversees rugby in England, has revealed his belief that any new tournament must contain representatives from all major countries rather than just an Anglo-French league.

But he has insisted he is yet to make a decision over whether to support Premiership Rugby in their quest to break away from the current Heineken Cup format and set up their own competition, starting next season.

His admission that “a definition of a European competition means you have to have most of Europe participating in it”, will bring hope to the Irish provinces that a resolution can be found which ensures they remain at rugby’s top table.

That will be discussed next month as ERC announced they will host negotiations in Dublin, again insisting only they can provide the platform for real discussions on the issue. Both Premiership Rugby and their French equivalent, the LNR, announced last week they strongly disagreed with ERC on that point, but the ball is now in their court as they must decide whether or not to attend the meeting and what tactics to adopt.

But Ritchie, who was speaking at an event to mark two years to go until the 2015 World Cup, has urged all sides to resolve their differences for the good of rugby — and to make the competition as inclusive as possible.

“Our view is that it should be a meritocratic competition that embraces all of Europe,” said Ritchie, whose union have the power to veto the proposed breakaway tournament.

“We would seek to achieve a European competition which involves clubs from Ireland, Scotland, France or wherever.

“Then is there an opportunity for clubs [from other countries] to aspire to get into it?

“It is important for the game as a whole — European rugby, English rugby — that we get these negotiations settled.

“It is important for our clubs in England — and we want to support them — and is important for the game that there is a recognition that all of Europe needs to be involved in that. We are trying to facilitate that.

“We are not minimising the strength of positions on all sides. But we need to have a genuinely European competition with everyone happy about the terms and conditions.

“It is clear what the end objective is. Of course there are reasons to support Premiership Rugby and we have had extensive discussions with the clubs — of course we have.

“Am I optimistic a solution can be reached? Yes. You are ever optimistic. I don’t minimise the difficulties.

“There are passionate, strongly-held views on all sides.

“We want to get to the end conclusion. It’s about the path to get to that situation.

“I am ever the optimist and believe we will get to that.”

Yet as it stands there are disagreements over who should even hold peace-talks — but ERC made it plain they believe they are the only party that has the right to do so.

But with time of the essence, questions will be asked about why talks on the subject cannot be convened until October 23 — exactly six weeks after the warring groups last held a fraught meeting on the subject.

“The involvement of all parties in ERC’s make-up is as vital now as it was in the early days of the organisation,” said ERC chief executive Derek McGrath.

“The only forum which can provide the platform for all-party negotiation under the accord is the ERC forum and any attempt to ambush or denigrate the discussions is clearly not in the best interest of these great European tournaments.

“More than one year has passed since notice was served on the accord and no proposal to date has received sufficient support to provide the basis for progress.

“This should not be seen as insurmountable, as agreement on European tournaments has always required compromise with an acceptance that no party will secure everything on their wish-list. The only way we ever made progress in previous accord negotiations was by serious engagement on the part of all ERC decision-makers. The same positive approach is required now and it is hoped that all signatories to the accord will dedicate their energy to the renewed process.”