Heineken Cup talks "have now ended"

[TRF_Olyy]

SkySports also has double the amount of regular channels and a 3d channel.

Not on BT - only SS1 and 2, for £20 (soon rising to £21) a month.

 

[Prestwick]

If they continued holding the meeting, you have to ask why.

The most likely explanation is that they had a long running game of dungeons & dragons which needed to be finished.

What? You guys honestly didn't think they were actually doing any work related stuff at these meetings did you?!

Whatever communique the ERC trot out will be irrelevant because now half of the key stakeholders AREN'T THERE!

What we really should be doing is dealing with the fall out of the inevitable, I repeat, i n e v i t a b l e, demise of ERC and working out what the world will be like in an RCC world.

 

[Packman]

Sky Sports is cheaper? :huh:
BT Sport is £12 a month on Sky (free on BT), Sky sports is £22 a month if you have Sky or £20 a month on BT.

My situation multimedia wise is not the norm. I live at the top of a hill with no BT phone line so when I asked for an install waaay back at the beginning of July their Indian call centre immediately said yeah no trouble, then nothing happened for two months forcing me to go with SKY or miss the start of the season. Yeah, BT was a complete failure to launch. So when I say cheaper, it'll be cheaper for me to dump it and save 12 quid. I'll still get the November and summer tests so I'll still be able to watch Italian and Scottish rugby drop to USA and Canada's level through lack of a elite competition. Woohoo. <_<

Test match rugby is screwed. Its no good, if you have something worth following then keep it to yourself, keep it below the radar, in the underground scene 'cause as soon as business sees an opportunity they'll hijack it and screw it up. They just don't get it. Rugby people wouldn't wreck the European cup. These slimebags aren't rugby fans. It took 'em less than 20 years of professionalism to turn it into football.

 

[Prestwick]

I'll still get the November and summer tests so I'll still be able to watch Italian and Scottish rugby drop to USA and Canada's level through lack of a elite competition. Woohoo. <_<

Yeeeeaaah.... because first having a strong Treviso + either Viadana or Gran Parma with no Italian stars and then a strong Treviso and Arione/Zebre with few Italian stars has helped catapult Italy into the international top ten how exactly?

Give me a break. Italy improved because they have a policy of feeding their talent to the English and French teams as well as Treviso.

It's madness to suggest that Italy, with participation booming, talent increasing and looking forward to packing big soccer stadiums this autumn and spring will suddenly collapse because only Treviso will be guaranteed RCC participation.

Also, you appear to be making disrespecting the second tier amlin cup/future replacement an art form at the moment.

Zebre and Edinburgh won't vanish into the abyss as they will be playing top English, French and Celtic sides who didn't make the RCC cut that year.

Stop with the hysteria already.

 

[gaston le gaff]

and i thought it was nearly over Blah Blah Blah!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

http://balls.ie/rugby/theres-hope-yet-future-heineken-cup/

This might have been handy 6 months ago!!! Don't be mislead by the headline.

 

[Amiga500]

It's madness to suggest that Italy, with participation booming, talent increasing and looking forward to packing big soccer stadiums this autumn and spring will suddenly collapse because only Treviso will be guaranteed RCC participation.

What about a potential funding cut meaning they cannot afford to fund two professional teams and their associated development structures?

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

http://balls.ie/rugby/theres-hope-yet-future-heineken-cup/

This might have been handy 6 months ago!!! Don't be mislead by the headline.

What is interesting from the press release is that there is no mention of it being an ERC run competition.

I don't think decreasing the top tier competition to 20 teams will help the second tier tournament one bit but hey ho, that's what we're getting. The second tier will be just as irrelevant as the Cup Winners Cup/ UEFA Cup/ Europa League or the League Cup in football. It's just putting lipstick on a pig.

 

[Tony Manx]

What is interesting from the press release is that there is no mention of it being an ERC run competition.

I don't think decreasing the top tier competition to 20 teams will help the second tier tournament one bit but hey ho, that's what we're getting. The second tier will be just as irrelevant as the Cup Winners Cup/ UEFA Cup/ Europa League or the League Cup in football. It's just putting lipstick on a pig.

I would agree entirely with you Snoopy...the second tier competition is nothing at the moment until the rejects from the H Cup come down and then it gets marginally mor einteresting.

It will not get any better where the number of second tier side participating is increased. These second tier sides may well gain experience in playing in the competition but, as it stands, the top teams who are "relegated" to this competition at the pool stage (and their supporters) will take a lot of convincing that it is worth putting out their top players and showing any interest.

 

[Prestwick]

What about a potential funding cut meaning they cannot afford to fund two professional teams and their associated development structures?

At the moment both Treviso and Zebre are privatly run and funded. The only help they get from the FIR is from the extra money they get to attract overseas Italian stars back home.

And what funding cut? And to whom? The FIR? The teams? Have you seen the final agreement? Do share...

 

[psychic duck]

At the moment both Treviso and Zebre are privatly run and funded. The only help they get from the FIR is from the extra money they get to attract overseas Italian stars back home.

And what funding cut? And to whom? The FIR? The teams? Have you seen the final agreement? Do share...

The FIR took over and organised the second Italian team Zebre after Aironi who were previously run by a merger between Viadana, Parma and a few others from the Italian leagues ran into difficulty.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

I would agree entirely with you Snoopy...the second tier competition is nothing at the moment until the rejects from the H Cup come down and then it gets marginally mor einteresting.

It will not get any better where the number of second tier side participating is increased. These second tier sides may well gain experience in playing in the competition but, as it stands, the top teams who are "relegated" to this competition at the pool stage (and their supporters) will take a lot of convincing that it is worth putting out their top players and showing any interest.

Yep. I think 24 teams in the top competition is the way to go. If they want to boost numbers in the the second tier, add in four extra developing teams. A third tier will lose money and add no interest.

I wonder what will happen with ERCs stockpile of money?

 

[Tony Manx]

I wonder what will happen with ERCs stockpile of money?

You mean what has not alreay been spent on bean feasts, salaries and travelling...............no doubt redundancy pay outs!!

 

[Amiga500]

Hmmm.... The ERC outcome is very, very interesting.

Its basically everything the PRL/LNR wanted but control. Furthermore, it was a meeting attended only by all the unions.

http://www.rte.ie/documents/sport/mediators-statement.pdf


Thus, one could could be drawn to the unions establishing a common agreed position from which they can say "You've got everything you need except governance. You aren't going to to get that. Ever. Take this offer or you will have no alternate competition, and McCafferty, we'll see you in court for breach of the commitment to the RFU[1] to play in the European competitions till 2016".


[1] http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/19630929

 

[Amiga500]

Ohhh, that was quick:

Premiership Rugby acknowledged the "progress" made in Dublin earlier today but stressed that "there remain some significant ones which have not yet been addressed."

In a statement released tonight, the English clubs governing body also stated that the details about the format of the new European Cup announced by the ERC were the same as the proposed Champions Cup.

The full statement read: "The formation of the new Rugby Champions Cup was announced by the English and French clubs on 22 September and the Welsh Regions have confirmed their full support this week. The new competitions are open to teams from all three leagues in Europe and the working group continues to prepare the necessary elements in good time for the 2014/15 Season.

"Premiership Rugby notes from today's statement on behalf of independent mediators Graeme Mew and Stephen Drymer that progress has been made on some key issues although there remain some significant ones which have not yet been addressed.

"Over the last few weeks of discussions, the French and English clubs have reiterated previous commitments concerning the Rugby Champions Cup and provided a number of new solutions for issues raised by the Unions in order to clear the way for other teams to participate, including:

The new Rugby Champions Cup is proposed to be under the overall regulatory responsibility of the Six Nations for compliance with IRB regulations, the provision of disciplinary services and the appointment of match officials.
The three Leagues will organise and manage the new Rugby Champions Cup competitions and maximise all the commercial rights.
In the 20-team top competition, there would be 7 places guaranteed for the RaboDirect Pro12 league.
Within the 7 automatic places, there must be at least one team from each country.
The French and English leagues will provide a minimum financial guarantee for the teams from the RaboDirect Pro12.

"Further details of the Rugby Champions Cup will be announced in due course."

So basically, they want control. [Of everything but the pesky paperwork.]


The unions would be stark raving mad to accept it.

 

[Feicarsinn]

If all three leagues get an equal say then I don't actually have any major issue.

 

[Tony Manx]

............ basically, they want control. [Of everything but the pesky paperwork.] The unions would be stark raving mad to accept it.

That and the money is what it was all about.....................!!

 

[Tony Manx]

If all three leagues get an equal say then I don't actually have any major issue.

Sky just said money shared equally between the leagues.......................and more talks scheduled for soon................load of ********!!

Did you see me on the show playing my 700th game for Ossett...............fantastic effort!!

 

[Amiga500]

If all three leagues get an equal say then I don't actually have any major issue.

I do.


Unions only please.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Sky just said money shared equally between the leagues.......................and more talks scheduled for soon................load of ********!!

No more so than BT doing the same thing.