Welsh regions break ranks to back European rebels in devastating blow to ERC

That project has now been endorsed in no uncertain terms by the Welsh who only

revealed their plans late on Tuesday night.

“Regional Rugby Wales on behalf of the four Welsh Regions confirms its full

support for the proposed Rugby Champions Cup competitions.

“While there remain elements of detail to be confirmed, it is now clear that

there are a number of significant advantages to the new competitions in

equality of governance, format, qualification and distribution across the

individual participating clubs.

“Consequently, RRW looks forward to working with the Welsh Rugby Union to

support their efforts and positive engagement in striving to ensure our

teams are involved in strong, valuable European club competitions in time

for next season.”

The WRU chief executive, Roger Lewis, has stated that he would be prepared to

act as a go-between to help resolve the issues. He now has to decide how to

handle this strident support of his regions for the rebel operation.

Premier Rugby welcomed Tuesday night’s developments. “This is good news and we

are looking forward to working with our partners in the future,” said a PRL

spokesman.

There is still a need for the unions to ratify the proposals and if the WRU

were to go against their regions, it could trigger an acrimonious face-off.

The Rugby Football Union has yet to give any firm indication as to its

position although it has long made supportive noises about the healthy

relationship that exists between club and country.

The real sticking point is in France where the federation has a much more

seemingly binding legal hold on its member clubs.

There had seemed to be a crack in the Anglo-French alliance following a

declaration by the Toulon owner, Mourad Boudjellal, last week that he would

have no truck with the LNR European plans if it insisted on imposing

restrictions on the number of overseas players allowed in any of the Top 14

sides from next season.

The LNR as a collective has long voiced its solidarity with the English clubs

who have been instrumental in setting the agenda.

“It is very clear, there will be the Rugby Champions’ Cup next season or there

will be nothing,” said the LNR president, Paul Goze. “Some pretend that they

do no realise this.”

Far from the Anglo-French hand being weakened by Boudjellal’s stance, it now

looks to be stronger than ever. The Welsh regions have long struggled to

make ends meet and have grown increasingly weary of their straitened

circumstances.

The new BT Sport European deal, worth in total £152 million over four years to

the English game, is likely to bring revenue of £60 million. That money is

expected to yield around £1.7 million to each of the Welsh regions, an

increase of some £600,000 per region per season.

The essence of Premier Rugby’s revised plans for the tournament is to see a

reduction in the elite competition, currently the Heineken Cup, from 24 to

20 teams.

It also wants qualification to be decided on merit with the top six sides from

each territory – the Aviva Premiership, the Top 14 and the Celtic League –

going forward from their respective competitions.

The two other sides would be made up of the holders in the two separate

European tournaments. A concession to those concerned that Scottish and

Italian representation would dwindle is to guarantee them one side each.

Even if there were to be rapprochement between the warring parties, there are

still conflicting TV deals on the table. Premier Rugby insists that it will

honour its obligations to BT Sport while ERC is intent on upholding its deal

with Sky Sport.

Article source: http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/heineken-cup-roundup-exeter-find-late-consolation-in-glasgow-defeat-8892898.html

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Welsh regions break ranks to back European rebels in devastating blow to ERC