Heineken Cup talks "have now ended"

[Groundhog]

I'm sure if the ERC is maintained, there'll be a lot of whooping and hollering in Ireland especially that the bast@rd PRL have been defeated in their aim to control European rugby. However the following should come with a note of caution if it comes to pass:

Surely if the French clubs are guaranteed an additional €2million it strengthens their financial clout in comparison with the Pro 12 teams and will lead to a player exodus.

Too ****ing right, more money floating around France is the opposite of what we want I think. Hopefully they spend that cash on cocaine and strippers so we get to keep our frontrunners.
I'll be chuffed if we get to keep our competition, hopefully plus the Brits and all.

 

[gaston le gaff]

Too ****ing right, more money floating around France is the opposite of what we want I think. Hopefully they spend that cash on cocaine and strippers so we get to keep our frontrunners.
I'll be chuffed if we get to keep our competition, hopefully plus the Brits and all.

I think you have the wrong game my friend yes the rugby clubs have lots of money but its the girlies who play foot a bal who do the coke and naughty ladies, dont spray shi*** on people who do not deserve it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Groundhog]

I think you have the wrong game my friend yes the rugby clubs have lots of money but its the girlies who play foot a bal who do the coke and naughty ladies, dont spray shi*** on people who do not deserve it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was a joke. I'm just saying I hope they spend it on anything but Irish players.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/ru...-next-seasons-Heineken-Cup-participation.html

..some people are on the pitch............they think it is all over...............well it is now........or is it another nothing article!!?

French manoeuvre leaves English clubs isolated over next season's Heineken Cup participation

FFR chief makes Top 14 an offer they probably can't refuse as only RFU is not invited to Dublin meeting to discuss next season's Heineken Cup

An offer they can't refuse....but did:
Top 14 clubs remain committed to RCC
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/ru...mmitted-to-breakaway-Rugby-Champions-Cup.html

Also claims that they have 30 of 38 clubs signed up. Who are the 8 that aren't? Presumably the Irish/Scots - maybe two of the French, was it Toulon and Toulouse who weren't keen?

 

[Amiga500]

http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/I...s-suspicious/story-20110228-detail/story.html

And, as Leicester Tigers chief executive Simon Cohen explained, whatever happens during the manoeuvring and politicking over the next few months, there is no turning back.

"We have given notice to exit the ERC-run competition and our BT Sport contract means we cannot go back into an ERC-run competition," he said.
"Even if we could, we would have little interest in putting ourselves back in a position which caused so much resentment.
"We will play against the French in the Champions Cup and we hope the unions will permit the other European clubs to also play in that competition."

 

[Amiga500]

An offer they can't refuse....but did:
Top 14 clubs remain committed to RCC
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/ru...mmitted-to-breakaway-Rugby-Champions-Cup.html

Also claims that they have 30 of 38 clubs signed up. Who are the 8 that aren't? Presumably the Irish/Scots - maybe two of the French, was it Toulon and Toulouse who weren't keen?

30/38?

12 English
4 Welsh
14 French


Which means
4 Irish,
2 Scots,
2 Italians

not signed up.

If Toulon and Biarritz are siding with the FFR and ERC, then its 28/38.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Fnnnnuuuuuuuuuuuuurrrrrr, completely forgot about the Italian clubs :lol:

 

[Amiga500]

Anyhoo - I think we can all agree whatever happens from here on in, its FUBAR.

There is either gonna be a HEC without my favourite whipping boys present.

Or there is gonna be a RCC with half the entrants feeling like the unwanted uncle at a wedding and a very clouded future for the professional game worldwide.


I hope the protagonists feel the end result is worth it for the sake of a few quid... otherwise not one aspect of it will have been worthwhile.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Reports are emerging that the Heineken Cup will take place next season without Premiership clubs. An announcement is expected after 7pm tonight.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Lots of talk on twitter about that as well.
Will be interesting to see what the French clubs say about it.
It's one thing the FFR saying they'll be involved, but another actually getting them there, especially as recently as yesterday they said they don't want to be in it.

 

[BasqueBete]

These seems to be the only thread the Irish are talking their usual faeces on...

Why aren't you on the intl threads ?


Ha ha

Which countries Have you beaten this year ?

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Lots of talk on twitter about that as well.
Will be interesting to see what the French clubs say about it.
It's one thing the FFR saying they'll be involved, but another actually getting them there, especially as recently as yesterday they said they don't want to be in it.

It'll be interesting to see how it's worded. Is it no RFU involvement or no PRL involvement?

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

These seems to be the only thread the Irish are talking their usual faeces on...

Why aren't you on the intl threads ?


Ha ha

Which countries Have you beaten this year ?

Compared to France and their league which leaves their players unable to be competitive internationally, we actually look like we're only having a bad year compared to the atrociously **** year we're having.

Also just for you bud. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8LBR0DRFYk Mwuahahahahahaha.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Timed so that it can be discussed on Sky's "The Rugby Club" no doubt.

 

[Amiga500]

http://www.espn.co.uk/scrum/rugby/story/206829.html


Just regurgitation of the rumour mill.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

A meeting was held in Dublin today (21 Nov) attended by FFR, FIR, IRFU, SRU and WRU to discuss the on-going issues surrounding European club competitions.

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 pyramidical 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.

The five Unions reconfirmed:

• Their agreement with the new competition formats and financial distribution formula previously agreed by the six Unions who attended the mediated meeting in Dublin on 23-24 October (http://www.ercrugby.com/news/<wbr>25300.php ).

Following today's discussions, the five Unions have agreed the following:

• A European club competition is to take place during the 2014/2015 season following an optimised sporting and economic format with 20 teams, no matter how many countries are involved.

• The competition will be driven by the existing organisation (currently named ERC) which will remain in charge of the centralised sale and management of all commercial rights, amongst other things.

• Discussions over governance will be pursued in order to optimise the internal functioning of the existing organisation (currently named ERC).

• The common aim is to move eventually towards the integration of European competitions within an all-encompassing European rugby framework.

WRU Statement

 

[Groundhog]

These seems to be the only thread the Irish are talking their usual faeces on...

Why aren't you on the intl threads ?


Ha ha

Which countries Have you beaten this year ?

You're a Biarritz fan? What exactly is it you're so cocky about. It's not like Biarritz have a better chance in the champions cup than the HEC.
Also the only thing worse than second to last in the six nations is dead last buddy.


http://www.thescore.ie/heineken-cup-english-out-1186449-Nov2013/
Just saw this. So ehm? I don't even want to trust this at this stage. I'll be sickened if there is no English representation.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Olyy's right about the french clubs; whilst I'm baffled by lots of the posturing, I think the thing to remember is the distinction between union positions and club positions. As the espn article points out, the welsh and french clubs have also declared their support/intention to be part of the new european cup with the english teams. What the unions think is another matter - but thats perhaps just my simplistic understanding of the situation..

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Olyy's right about the french clubs; whilst I'm baffled by lots of the posturing, I think the thing to remember is the distinction between union positions and club positions. As the espn article points out, the welsh and french clubs have also declared their support/intention to be part of the new european cup with the english teams. What the unions think is another matter - but thats perhaps just my simplistic understanding of the situation..

That's my reading of it too. It's all well and good the FFR and WRU supporting ERC but unless LNR and RRW back it, it's no different to the current situation. What remains to be seen is how much sway the Welsh and French Union/Federation hold over their clubs.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Are the LNR not faced with a decision now of HEC or no European competition due to the legal side of things?


Anyway that sounds like some good news, no English teams for a year (if this happens) is disappointing but if the HEC goes ahead surely they'll have little choice other than joining it the year after?



The Welsh will go to wherever there actually is a competition and that looks like the HEC at this stage so next year, much like 99, we'll have a forgettable tournament but at least it'll come out more stable on the other side, even if the smaller Pro 12 sides end up falling into obscurity.