New Euro Cup will be based in Switzerland
The warring factions are understood to have negotiated a double breakthrough aimed at reunifying Europe from next season under the banner of Rugby Champions’ Cup, an Anglo-French creation supported by the four Welsh regions.
The tournament will be run by a new executive made up of one representative from the three major domestic Leagues and one from each of the six Unions involved. The new body will replace the Dublin-based European Rugby Cup Ltd and relocate to Geneva – provided peace breaks out at long last.
In that event, the newly constituted European Rugby will follow more than 40 international sporting bodies to set up home in Switzerland since the International Olympic Committee went there almost a century ago. Advantages are said to extend beyond neutrality to practical matters such as tax incentives.
RFU chief executive Ian Ritchie has emerged as the potential saviour in respect of negotiating a way over the biggest single obstacle by finding a compromise deal over television rights between BT Sport and Sky.
The Union-controlled ERC renewed their Sky contract last year but, according to the English clubs, only after they had given notice to quit ERC in June 2012. The clubs’ umbrella body, PRL Ltd, signed with BT.
The English clubs and Welsh regions claim that in the new Europe they will be masters of their own commercial destiny, that the Unions have backed down on an issue which derailed the last peace plan four months ago.
“We haven’t got a solution yet but we have taken a huge step forward,” a leading administrator said. “It’s taken a massive effort to get this far.
“It looks as though we will have a new directorate to replace ERC and run the competition from Switzerland.
“Attitudes have changed, not least among the Unions who realise that they were in some trouble with their Sky contract. There’s an increasing recognition that those running the English clubs and the Welsh regions are not a bunch of gold-diggers but people who love rugby and want to run a better competition.
“The prospect of peace in Europe is good news. Having said that a lot of Welsh supporters will say it isn’t because it will prevent an Anglo-Welsh League from happening.”
Once the dust settles over a reunited Europe, the Welsh regions will still see a switch to the greener pastures of the Aviva Premiership as a more rewarding long-term goal than staying in the Pro12 which will shrink next season to eleven, at most, following Treviso’s notice to quit.
The Champions’ Cup will be based on the top six of the English and French Leagues plus seven from the Pro12, including the highest ranked team from each of the four competing Unions, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales. The 20th place will be reserved for one extra team from the country of the winner.
PETER JACKSON
