Wilkinson: End of Heineken Cup would be 'incredible shame'

English fly-half Jonny Wilkinson has thrown his support behind the Heineken Cup

It comes after the International Rugby Board declared their support for the European tournament.

English and French clubs, seeking structural, qualification and financial changes to the competition, have stated they will establish their own format next season that teams from other nations were welcome to join.

Wilkinson, who kicked 11 points as Toulon edged Clermont 16-15 in last year’s final in Dublin, declared the competition's demise would be an "incredible shame".

“It would be an incredible shame if we weren’t able to compete in the Heineken Cup which is, effectively, the World Cup for European clubs,” Wilkinson told the Evening Standard.

“Having fought like mad while at Newcastle and twice managing to get into the Cup, and reaching a quarter-final in Paris and having a couple of goes here at Toulon, it makes you realise what an event it is for northern hemisphere rugby.

“Going to the quarter-final, semis and the final with Toulon reminded me so much of that World Cup experience where you have media in the week and stadium visits.

“It’s a fabulous thing and the more people who can experience it, the better.

“However, if there is unhappiness and unrest then it needs to be sorted out and long may the competition continue.”

Representatives of the 12 Aviva Premiership clubs are convening at a routine meeting in London this afternoon and Europe will dominate the conversation.

Among the talking points will be the decision by European Rugby Cup, who organise the Heineken and Amlin Challenge Cups, to hold the next round of negotiations on October 23.

The six-week wait for further discussions will have bemused Premiership Rugby, who have been frustrated by what they view as ERC’s intransigence and are now no longer willing to work with the organisation.