Champions Cup in limbo as leagues attempt to solve fixtures furore

Officials from three leagues will return to negotiations today with Champions Cup organisers to thrash out a viable date to play the five tournament fixtures postponed in the wake of last weekend’s terrorist attacks in Paris.

Sources close to the discussions say progress in rescheduling the games, including Munster’s visit to Stade Francais, was made during a two-and-a-half-hour conference call yesterday between European Professional Cup Rugby (EPCR) and representatives from France’s Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR), England’s Premiership Rugby and the Pro12 on behalf of the clubs.

Against the backdrop of an already crowded rugby calendar further congested by this year’s World Cup, which means there are no free weekends between now and the conclusion of round six of the Champions Cup pool phase, officials were hopeful of further progress during today’s conference call, although there was little likelihood of agreement on a workable solution before tomorrow.