Not too late to save H-Cup, ERC chief tells rebels

European Rugby Cup (ERC) chief executive Derek McGrath has urged rebellious English and French clubs to return to the negotiating table in an effort to save the Heineken Cup, insisting there is still time to thrash out a new accord to continue the prestigious European club competition.

Speaking at the official Irish launch of the competition, which starts its 18th and potentially final campaign the weekend after next, McGrath maintained it was not too late to save the tournament, despite Anglo-French bullishness that, having given notice to quit the Heineken Cup at the end of this season, they are willing to institute an alternative pan-European Rugby Champions Cup backed by a rival television rights deal already signed and sealed.

It was no coincidence ERC chose their broadcast partner Sky Sport’s Dublin headquarters at Sky Ireland to stage their Irish media launch, 24 hours after a similar event in Cardiff at which the English clubs had reiterated their frustration with ERC administrators and also their commitment to the rival BT Vision-backed competition.