ERC may have left it too late to save Heineken Cup

Breakingnews.ie Rugby Correspondent Daniel Pitcher on worries about the collapse of the Heineken Cup.

A week ago today, I received a statement from the IRFU, prior to a meeting at ERC offices in Dublin, attended by the Irish, Scottish, Welsh, French and Italian unions, fully committed to having a European Club Rugby competition run by ERC, who run the Heineken Cup.

Absent from the meeting in Dublin were both the RFU (The English union) and Premiership Rugby (Organisers of the Aviva Premiership) and despite the FFR (French Union) in attendance, Ligue Nationale de Rugby (Organisers of the Top 14) were also absent.

The statement released by the IRFU stated the following: "All five Unions believe that it is critical to the interests of the game in Europe that the Unions are at the heart of the governance of cross-border club competitions given that rugby in each country is organised in a paramedical structure.

"Clubs, provinces and regional organisations form an integral part of the development of the game throughout this structure, from grassroots to the international game.

"Cross-border club competitions must not conflict with the development of the sport in Europe by Unions, this being in the best interest of players, spectators and the sport in general."

At the meeting the unions present confirmed that a European Club Rugby competition would take place in 2014/15 with a 20-team format, no matter how many countries were involved.

That is all well and good, but the absence of the reps from England and the French leagues suggested that we are no closer to seeing a proper European competition.

The RFU’s head of communications Will Chignell released a statement shortly after suggesting they were left out of discussions.

The statement read: "We are extremely surprised and disappointed not to be involved today.

It is right that the outcomes of the mediated meeting held in Dublin on 24th October, which resulted in an agreement for a meritocratic tournament and equitable distribution of revenues, have been

reaffirmed.

"It has been clear for some time that governance is a central outstanding issue and we remain committed to help facilitate a solution so that a truly pan-European competition can continue to

thrive for the benefit of players and spectators alike."

I recently spoke to the communications director of Premiership Rugby who confirmed to me that they had withdrawn from the ERC 18 months ago and as far as he was concerned, NO English club would be taking part in anything run by the ERC.

He also confirmed to me that his counterparts in France have the same view, so just what did the FFR’s presence and the RFU’s absence and prior statement mean to this ongoing problem?

Very little it would seem! Premiership rugby remain fully committed to starting their breakaway tournament - the Rugby Champions Cup - with the French clubs, so really what we are left with is another version of the Rabo Direct Pro 12.

I don’t think many would argue against the view that the Pro 12 is poor and its format, whereby the team that finishes top isn’t guaranteed to actually win the league, is confusing and rather pointless.

Rabo Direct, as it happens is into the final year of its sponsorship of the league, so another question needs to be asked about the future of the league, if all we are going to be left with are the same teams from Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Italy, competing in a 'European Competition'.

As a rugby fan, I am drawn to big European games like Leinster v Clermont, Munster v Toulon or even any of the provinces against the bigger English sides like the Tigers or Northampton.

If clubs like that were to suddenly disappear from the Heineken Cup, there wouldn’t really be that much of a draw because we already see our provinces in action against the likes of Scarlets, Edinburgh and Treviso on a regular basis.

We have seen how the Welsh club scene in particular is being affected by teams from England and France raiding their clubs for top players.

It has seen a drop in gate receipts, regardless of whether it’s Pro 12 or Heineken Cup games. The overall affect is that clubs and the Welsh rugby union itself are making big losses.

The IRFU faces a similar fate if the provinces lose that big draw. It risks big days and attendances in the Aviva falling off due to lack of interest, the same falling gate receipts, falling revenue and then the same raiding of our top players.

Not so long ago I wrote that a collapse of the Heineken Cup could result in financial ruin for the IRFU. One would feel that even if the Heineken Cup is saved, without the English or the French clubs'

involvement, it could be as detrimental for Ireland’s rugby union.

Some would have seen the recent statements from the IRFU and the other unions as a big step forward on the way to saving European rugby, however I have yet to see proof that these "positive

meetings" will be good news for rugby fans.

The ball is still in the ERC’s court as far as I can make out. A two-year notice was given to them by English and French clubs to pull out of ERC competitions, they left it late enough to try do something

about it, I remain convinced that it could well have been too late.