The question of who runs European club rugby was the major sticking point Friday after both sides in the ‘breakaway’ row moved closer on a raft of other issues.
The future of both the European Cup and the second-tier European Challenge Cup was thrown into doubt last month when leading English and French clubs announced plans for a breakaway Rugby Champions Cup (RCC) free from the control of existing organisers, European Rugby Cup (ERC) — a body dominated by the continent’s leading national unions rather than the clubs.
But, following this week’s meeting of national union representatives and ERC chiefs in Dublin, Premiership Rugby (PRL), the umbrella group for England’s leading clubs, and the Ligue National de Rugby, their French equivalent, said Friday there was now agreement on several major points.
“Premiership Rugby and Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR) are pleased to note that all parties have reached agreement on the European club competition formats and the principles of financial distribution,” a Premiership statement said.
“These are on the basis of the platform proposed by the English and French clubs and which correspond with the principles which guided the formation of the Rugby Champions Cup.”
The statement added the RCC would be under the “overall regulatory responsibility” of the unions of the Six Nations (England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, France and Italy), who would deal with disciplinary procedures, appointment of match officials, and compliance with International Rugby Board regulations.
Currently, the Six Nations performs a similar role regarding end of year international fixtures in Europe.
However, the statement stressed the RCC would be run by its three constituent leagues (English, French and Celtic), not ERC, who would be responsible for management and promotion of the competitions, commercial rights’ sales and financial distributions.
“This solution meets the respective needs of the parties and is an integral part of the overall proposals, alongside competition qualification and format and share of financial distributions,” the statement said.
English and French clubs have long complained that Celtic League teams have an unfair advantage in European competition as most of them are guaranteed entry, whereas Premiership and Top 14 teams have to fight hard just to qualify.
But the Dublin meeting backed Anglo-French calls for “meritocratic” qualification.
The dispute has also been complicated by a row over broadcast rights.
Premiership Rugby have signed a television deal with BT Vision worth STG152 million ($A257 million) with STG52 million ($A886 million) of that earmarked for European competitions.
But ERC insist they will stand by current broadcast partners Sky, with a contract agreed until 2018.
The Anglo-French breakaway plan received support Tuesday from Wales’s four regional teams — Cardiff Blues, Ospreys, Newport Gwent Dragons and the Scarlets — which further undermined ERC’s position.
But that scheme suffered a setback when Mourad Boudjellal, the owner of French side Toulon, the reigning European champions, said Wednesday his club would not compete in any breakaway event.
Old Bugger
Guest
KT Did I say to stop them starting the competition or negotiating a commercial deal for their new competition - by all means, they can do what they like starting a new breakaway comp?? What I am alluding to is that neither the English & French unions or the IRB are obligated to sanction such a competition, which in effect if it proceeds, may have a major impact on Euro rugby and international rugby overall. The IRB has their jewel which is the RWC and a breakaway competition such as this one will have implications on player's international representation at this tournament, as we have already witnessed with numerous Pacific Island players. When players become unavailable for their national teams because of club commitments, then their absence from the RWC, diminishes that tournament overall. The EU courts can rule on fair trading and commercial processes but my argument is not to stop the comp at all - let it happen however, by the same token, it is also incumbent upon the IRB to protect its own interest and ensure all players have the ability to represent their national sides and when/if these clubs prevent this from happening for whatever reason they present, then the option available to the IRB is not to sanction the competition. The outcome could be that the players do not join the breakaway clubs and instead, join with the remaining clubs sanctioned by their respective national unions.
kunming tiger
Guest
Old Bugger said | October 27th 2013 @ 12:21am | Report comment Look, all I’m gonna say is I hope the IRB, with the backing of all national unions including both English and French unions, vote to ban all players who participate in this break-away competition, from participating in future RWC comps. The clubs may eventually start and rule their new break-away competition, but without access for its players to the RWC competition, then this may cause a considerable amount of anxiety, amongst its players. A valid point but the vast majority of club players are exactly that CLUB players such a ban wouldn't affect them. Notwithstanding the legal implications of such a blanket ban and the fact that the national teams of England and France would have to be selceted from the second tier comps for the RWC. [ In effect you asking the world governing body to take sides in a commercial dispute between third parties. A commercial arrangement they are not privy to. The issue is do the clubs in question have a right to renegotiate the comercial terms of their participation in the HC and/or the right to withdraw from the HC if negotiations are unsuccessful? All parties concerned have a right to due process. Jurisdiction in the matter does not lie with the IRB biut with the regulatory bodies in the EU aka the courts. They will ulitimately decide what's legally biding and what's not. ]
Old Bugger
Guest
Look, all I'm gonna say is I hope the IRB, with the backing of all national unions including both English and French unions, vote to ban all players who participate in this break-away competition, from participating in future RWC comps. The clubs may eventually start and rule their new break-away competition, but without access for its players to the RWC competition, then this may cause a considerable amount of anxiety, amongst its players. The global stage is building around the RWC - not a club competition based in England and France. IMO, such an overwhelming international response, will be the game breaker to this current impasse.