Aviva Premiership clubs to miss out on European rugby next season

“I said I can’t see how the English will be in the 2014-15 competition, but,

if somebody can articulate how that might happen, then we would, of course,

listen to that. The second part of that got turned around and emphasised.”

There is known to be genuine concern within the English game that with no

European rugby next season, some of the smaller clubs might suffer. “People

forget that in 2014-15 we have got an increase factored in on our BT monies

for the coverage of the Aviva Premiership,” said McCafferty. “The new Aviva

contract kicks in at that point. We have a fourth international next year.

The financial issues are manageable.”

It is believed that even 48 hours before the announcement by the French clubs

on Thursday, McCafferty had been assured of their full support for the RCC.

“We knew the French union was putting the French clubs under a lot of

pressure. Those clubs are on a very tight timetable with regards to the

signing of their new agreement with the French union and for their own

domestic TV rights deal. But we were not pleased with the way it came out

all of a sudden.

“I think the French clubs will say they won’t play and the French union will

tell six of them they have to play in this 20-team competition.”

In that case, the English will be isolated. “Either we look at expansion or

concentration of our league, or we look at international competition.”

Article source: http://www.express.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/441624/Baxter-hails-departing-Hayes

Aviva Premiership clubs to miss out on European rugby next season