Consensus reached in Dublin over Heineken Cup row

A consensus has been reached over the Heineken Cup row at a meeting in Dublin today.
The statement released on behalf of mediators Graeme Mew and Stephen Drymer suggests that “progress has been made on a number of issues relating to the future of European club rugby competition”.
The announcement comes two days after the Regional Rugby Wales announced their full support to the Anglo-French backed Champions Cup.
The present parties in Dublin agreed that there should continue to be two professional European club rugby tournaments.
The Primary Competition would be made up of 20 clubs with the Premiership and the Top 14 providing six clubs each while seven teams will come from the Pro12.
In the first year, the last qualified team will be allocated through a play-off match between the 7th placed in the Premiership and Top 14. After that, the two next non-qualified Pro12 clubs will also take part in the four-team play-offs for the 20^th spot where the English and French clubs would have home advantage in the play-offs against the Pro12 clubs.
The winner of the secondary competition would qualify to participate in the play-offs, if not already qualified by right.
However, the statement also stipulates that “In the case of the Pro12, there will be at least one club guaranteed from each country”, the issue that started the row nearly two years ago.
The Secondary Competition would consist of up to 20 clubs made up of the remaining 18 PRL, LNR and Pro12 clubs. Two places could be allocated to clubs qualifying from a third competition.
The second issue pushing the English and French away was the distribution of revenue and it seems all present parties have agreed to share a third each with the stipulation that monies to be received by the Pro12 countries would not be less than the current levels.