English clubs may boycott Heineken Cup

English clubs are to join their French counterparts in considering a boycott of the Heineken Cup next season, according to reports.

After a weekend in which Leicester, Northampton and Wasps progressed to the competition’s semi-final, the Guinness Premiership clubs are apparently prepared to risk legal action from the Rugby Football Union by pulling out of the cup next season.

French clubs will make a decision this week whether to carry out their threat while European Rugby Cup also get together to thrash out a new five-year agreement.

This latest news arises after the stalling of talks between the RFU and Premier Rugby over a new system of co-operation.

Wasps chief executive David Davies told the Guardian: “If the RFU persists with its current standpoint, it is questionable whether there will be any European competition next year.

“That would call into question the future of the tournament. It is not unreasonable to grant Premier Rugby a shareholding in its own right, and there is a growing feeling that the clubs who bring most to this competition should have a voice in how it is run commercially, having long expressed our concerns about its commercial performance.

“It is the denial of this voice which is bringing the Heineken Cup to its knees.”