RFU CEO Ian Ritchie optimistic over Heineken Cup row

Rugby Football Union CEO Ian Ritchie is confident English clubs will compete in a European tournament next season.
The Premiership clubs confirmed last week their refusal to take part in the Heineken Cup which could leave them adrift after the French turned their back and decided they will play in the ERC-run for at least another season.
But Ritchie is optimistic that a solution can and needs to be done.
“We must understand the consequences of failure – they are not a good thing,” Ritchie said. “We are in a better place if we have a proper pan-European club competition. The alternatives are lesser to the ones we believe we should be working towards.
“All parties want to get a pan-European competition. I don’t know of anyone who doesn’t want that. Everyone wants it, the question is how we get there. We owe it to the fans, players and everybody involved in rugby to make sure we get this agreed. All of us have an obligation to bust a gut to reach an agreement.
“We need to get in a room as a matter of urgency and get proper, focused discussions to agree on the outstanding matters. That’s what we’ve been trying to do because the prize of getting it right is infinitely preferable to the alternatives.”