The Chumps cup is belly up in the water. I'm very sorry to you guys here as a lot of our debates and craìc we have had here were centered around the Heineken Cup. With the French turning tail it leaves the English clubs in the wilderness alone and in a contract to BT television which means that they will be unable to compete in European competition due to the conflict of TV rights.
"France’s Top 14 sides are set to remain in the Heineken Cup next season after a meeting today in Orly, according to reports in French rugby newspaper Midi Olympique.
According to the paper’s website, the French clubs “have decided to disassociate from their English counterparts and remain under the umbrella of the ERC".
The French National Rugby League convened a meeting today to discuss the draft proposals for a breakaway Rugby Champions Cup that would involve the top sides from England’s Premiership and the Top 14 leading a new European competition.
The decision followed a vote, although not all clubs are believed to have backed the decision to stay with the ERC."
I really wish i could say that this was not of their own doing (English Premierships Management) But it clearly was. They attempted to wrest control of European rugby away from the Unions of Europe and effectively make it privately run where by grass roots rugby could and would have been destroyed. It was out and out greed. SOme say even vindictive behaviour to drop Sky in favour of BT but regardless it was certainly arrogant beyond contempt. To effectively tell Italy, Scotland Wales France and Ireland that they don't like the rules so they will force their own rules on everyone else and all for their personal financial gain. i have commented on little else here for the past few months and frankly i can't believe that you guys, probably the best cross border bunch of like minded people i have ever met on a rugby board, have chosen to ignore the situation.
A very few greedy Bas-***ds have sold out your league to the highest bidder and arrogantly expected the rest of Europe to follow suit cap in f-***ng hand.
Sorry guys. But I'm so desperately disappointed at this situation and i feel very strongly about it. I hate the thought of a European competition without the English clubs. The fallout from this could be catastrophic. BT signed on with the Prem clubs on the proviso of a new European competition which BT would effectively Own!!! That's beyond belief. But worse. There was a promise a bag load of cash to the clubs making them rich of course but also without Union regulation they could import who ever they wanted to the clubs and pay them whatever they wanted effectively killing the National team. Now that the "chumps" Cup has fallen through what happens? Does the BT deal fall through also? Well as far as i am aware NO! The rumours are that the financial shares to the Clubs for the TV rights shall be drastically reduced as per the contract. Meaning simpl, next year and for the duration of the BT deal English Clubs will receive just a fraction of what they were getting from Sky. McCafferty and his cronies played russian roulette with you league. And it seems you guys (Fans) just ignored it? WHY?
French clubs disassociate themselves
posted on 2/12/13
Some more interesting Info.
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Controversial LNR boss Paul Goze has lived up to his reputation by claiming that he used the Rugby Champions Cup, a breakaway European tournament championed by the English clubs, to force the ERC to meet their demands.
The Top 14 clubs yesterday performed a shock u-turn in their stance on Europe, agreeing to remain in the Heineken Cup next season after having previously backed the English clubs’ proposal for a new competition.
Goze said that the French clubs, who voted yesterday on the matter at a meeting just outside of Paris, would play in the ERC-run tournaments next year, but only if the English clubs were allowed back in also. If that doesn’t happen, then who knows what the outcome will be.
“The RCC was a way to get the progress we wanted,” Goze told Midi Olympique, referring to the restructured qualification format and reorganised financial distribution that has since been agreed upon.
“If the English cannot participate in next year’s competition, then a new meeting will be organised. Then we will pose the question as to whether the French clubs will also take part. I can’t say whether the English clubs will be able to leave their contract with BT Sport.”
Goze admitted, however, that this was a one year deal, designed to give them time to come up with a proper alternative for the 2015/2016 season.
“This year of transition will give us enough time to create a new structure,” he added. “From now until July 1st 2014, we will try and find a way to include everybody in the new competition next year. We want to move to a new structure which would be more like an association of federations, similar to the one used in football. It’s not possible to do that in six months.
“This new structure will be out of the ordinary for rugby. It will change attitudes, so it’s very important. The most difficult aspect is getting everyone behind the idea of an association of federations. Therefore we need to get a commission up and running as soon as possible to start planning for 2015-2016.”
He admitted that, at the moment, the biggest obstacle appeared to be the deal with BT Sport that the Premiership Rugby have signed, the details of which nobody seems to be quite sure.
“If there is one problem, it’s the contract signed by the English clubs. We reserve the right to withdraw from the competition next season should they not be able to join.”
posted on 2/12/13
Thats even worse. Goze let you guys dig a massive hole and all the time was well aware they were going to do a
U-Turn when the opportunity came up. And he clearly stated the the problem it the BT deal. This leads me to believe that PRL had been talking with the French about the little coup and the french said "SURE!!!!Great idea" Them Mccafferty thought to himself. perfect opportunity to make a bundle of cash by selling off the TV rights to BT. "How clever am I!!!" he was thinking. Then the French did a U-Turn. and it leaves the PRL in the brown stuff.
posted on 5/12/13
Well thats all folks.
Sobeit
http://www.premiershiprugby.com/news/29994.php#.UqDzu8RdVEU
posted on 10/12/13
Hi there,
With the excpetion of the first paragraph on the second page, which strikes me as purely an opinion piece from Thornley, both articles say pretty much the same thing.
Where we go from here is interesting, the Welsh are clearly unhappy and there seems to be some talk about them walking out of the Pro-12 and joining an Anglo-Welsh league
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/rugby-union/25324502
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/rugby-union/25271373
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/rugby-union/25255119
That would be 30 games for each side, rather than 22, but if the Heineken Cup was out that would only be 2 more games a season and mitgh take away the need for teh Anglo-Welsh Cup (great loss that would be!!!)
This could all be quite interesting and see an Anglo-Welsh series of leagues from grass roots to the top, I guess it wouldn't be too hard to bring Scotland in if they chose to go that way.
Who knows we could see London Scottish, Pontypool, Heriots, Watsonians, Moseley, Pontypridd etc all take the field against each other, now that really would be something wonderful!
We'll see I guess, I'm still confident everything will end happily
posted on 10/12/13
Completely Ignoring the fact that the PRL's demands every single demand has been conceded to. And they still choose not to play ball. Because they want to take control of the revenue stream coming from this level of rugby while the Unions absolutely refuse to let that happen as this revenue stream is what pays the bill for all levels of rugby from school boys up to international.
Thats not being discussed in the UK conveniently being ignored by your media. While the rest of the Euro countries are screaming about it.
SARS if you are for a a Monopoly and a privatisation of the Club game across Europe with England and France controlling the pan european game then sobeit. But it's short term gain vs massive loss to the overall game of rugby.
I don't really care for selective reporting going on over there. The fact is the PRL got exactly what they were asking for and still balked. While the French said. Perfect thats what we wanted we are back on board. This shows a vindictive and aggressive takeover bid is in progress by Mark McCafferty and co. A small group of sc.um.bags but powerful nonetheless. Rugby as a game cannot sustain it's self long term with the most lucrative revenue stream being privatised and controlled by a few in a monopoly.
posted on 10/12/13
Ding I haven't been commenting on this because you seem to be taking it personally. I see it from both sides.
The fact is that the prize money distribution isn't fair and the structure of the pro-12 gives a huge advantage over England and France. The pro-12 clubs took 52% of the prize money last season (as I understand it), the English and French don't see that as fair and I agree. The vast majority of the money is from England and France remember (in tv deals).
Anyway, as I said I can see both viewpoints. Like it or not it is a business and all that I can do is have faith they will sort out a deal which everyone is happy with. Which I will.
posted on 10/12/13
Understood aristo. But the concessions have been made re the prize money. The division is now equal for the 3 respective leagues. 33% each.
As for it being unfair thats a matter of perspective. the division was decided upon by Union/Country It's a bit of a twisting of the facts when people say the Pro 12 got 52% take into account that that 52% is dived again by 4. and i think you will find that the spin of the Pro12 being favoured is not actually true at all.
Anyway like i said. the ERC and the unions agreed to change the money distribution and agreed to the demands of the PRL and the French. So now it is Evenly divided by 3 to each league. All of the demands have been met. There is no more arguments left there. every demand they made was met. it was a huge climb down by the ERC but they did it nonetheless.
So as you say, you can see it from both sides. What do you see now?
P.S It's not personal.
posted on 15/12/13
This whole thing has become such a joke, it is unreal.
I see the RFU are still saying they want nothing to do with ERC. Well, fine, so be it. Let the English clubs play their own competition on BT Sport if they wish, and the rest of Europe can move forward without them. No single union can be allowed to dictate like this.
Meanwhile I will continue to watch blokes slog it out in the mud at level 10 where all this matters not a jot. Or does it, when yet more money gets pumped into the so-called, self-serving "elite". Inevitably there will be less to trickle down to the grass roots of the game, and that is never a good thing.
posted on 15/12/13
Show.
It's not the RFU they have little of no control over PRL The RFU are keeping their mouth shut. Which is desperately disappointing considering all the other 5 Unions of europe have condemned the PRL for trying to take over european club rugby.
But i understand the position of the RFU. They are hosting the World cup soon. They can't risk getting on the wrong side of the clubs. That internal game of chess has many other layers. But in the big picture of europe it's not our problem really.
posted on 15/12/13
Ding
Like I said, it is all a joke that doesn't do the game as a whole any good at all.
PRL/RFU - who cares, English rugby is knackering the game. If the RFU are keeping silent, then they are equally culpable. All that is required for evil to succeed is for good men to do nothing.
End of rant.