European row close to resolution

Next year’s Heineken Cup could feature all the top teams after the clubs and unions took the first step towards resolving their differences.

The Rugby Football Union (RFU) and Premier Rugby Ltd (PRL) have been in dispute over the shareholding and voting rights in European Rugby Cup (ERC).

Teams in England and France had threatened to boycott the Heineken Cup and European Challenge Cup next season over the row.

However, a meeting of ERC shareholders in Dublin today, which included representatives from the six shareholder unions and club bodies in England, France, Italy and Wales resulted in an agreement to sort out the situation.

All parties at the meeting committed themselves to the long-term future of the European competition and to providing a stable future for both tournaments.

A meeting is due to take place between the RFU and PRL over the next two weeks which could lead to a final agreement that the leading clubs from all six competing nations will support the tournaments.

The plan is for this agreement to be in place by the final of this year’s Heineken Cup at Twickenham on May 20.