The French have just signed a huge television deal for the Top 14 that will boost their purchasing power but if the Cup becomes a two-nation tournament it will lose its value
What may be the last group round of the Heineken Cup has not turned out the way the organisers would have wanted. Six teams have qualified for the last eight, Leinster are virtually there and Saracens need to beat Connacht at home on Saturday to complete the set.
The quarter-finalists will come from three countries, as they did last season, with the RaboDirect Pro 12 supplying three, all Irish. The continued success of the provinces in Europe reinforces what the French and English clubs have said about the competition: that qualification needs to be more meritocratic and the proceeds split evenly between the three leagues that supply the teams.
It is a delicate balancing act. The presence of the English and French in Europe has effectively subsidised the other national teams but it is important that all countries involved have the means to retain their best players. If the Heineken Cup effectively becomes a two-nation tournament, it loses its value.
The French clubs have just signed a huge television deal for the Top 14, which will boost their purchasing power. England have largely withstood that threat, but Wales have been vulnerable and Ireland, whose tax system has helped them retain their top players, are starting to feel it with Jonathan Sexton at Racing Metro and Jamie Heaslip being linked with a move to France.
I fervently hope this is not the last Heineken Cup. It is an incredible tournament that is totally different to league rugby. Coaches can only watch and wait while the politics are played out, but if I were in charge at one of our leading clubs, I would be concerned at its potential loss.
Saracens were at Toulouse last week, Northampton won in Leinster last month and Leicester face Ulster on Saturday in a match that will decide who wins the group. Gloucester sold out against Munster last weekend when Harlequins had an epic battle with Clermont Auvergne. No one wants to see fixtures like those disappear.
It looks as if only two Premiership teams will be in the quarter-finals. Northampton have a glimmer of a chance and Ospreys have included their big players for the trip to Leinster, but they will be disappointed to be in that position after making such a strong start in the Premiership. The home defeat against Leinster looks to have cost them, one of those days when everything went wrong for them and when that happens in Europe, you pay.
If it is to be the last Heineken Cup, it is fitting that Leicester have made it through. Like Toulouse and Munster, they have become synonymous with the tournament and a win over Ulster will give them a home draw, as long as they do not concede two bonus points.
Their home form has not been as formidable as in past years, but they are a team for the big occasion and, like Munster, they keep going until the very end of a match, giving them the ability to turn defeat into victory as they did in Montpellier. Some of their injured players are returning and they know what it takes to do well in Europe.
The other three home sides may all be French. Toulouse and Clermont face the bottom teams in their pools this weekend while Toulon go to Glasgow. Toulouse have struggled at times this season but the recruitment of Toby Flood, although they are not permitted to announce the signing until April, is significant: not since Rob Andrew more than 20 years ago have they had a 10 who ticks more than one box.
After this weekend, attention will turn to the Six Nations and what has happened in Europe will be no guide to it, as I found with Scotland last season. Wales have not made an impact on the Heineken Cup for a while, but they are looking for a third successive championship title, something that has not been achieved since the early days when only four countries took part.
Wales's regions may be losing players but the national set-up is stable. Warren Gatland announced his squad this week and it was heavy on experience, although they are vulnerable to injuries with not all positions having adequate cover.
There is not that much time to prepare for the Six Nations so consistency in selection and familiarity with the set-up are important. France have done nothing in the Six Nations for the last two years, finishing bottom in 2013 – and that reflected the chopping and changing within the squad.
The Six Nations is all about getting a good start. You get some poor matches, largely because of the weather which was pretty awful last year, and you do not want to be firefighting.
But that comes later. This weekend is all about the Heineken Cup, a tournament that has to survive for the good of the game in every one of the Six Nations. Reported by guardian.co.uk 7 hours ago.
What may be the last group round of the Heineken Cup has not turned out the way the organisers would have wanted. Six teams have qualified for the last eight, Leinster are virtually there and Saracens need to beat Connacht at home on Saturday to complete the set.
The quarter-finalists will come from three countries, as they did last season, with the RaboDirect Pro 12 supplying three, all Irish. The continued success of the provinces in Europe reinforces what the French and English clubs have said about the competition: that qualification needs to be more meritocratic and the proceeds split evenly between the three leagues that supply the teams.
It is a delicate balancing act. The presence of the English and French in Europe has effectively subsidised the other national teams but it is important that all countries involved have the means to retain their best players. If the Heineken Cup effectively becomes a two-nation tournament, it loses its value.
The French clubs have just signed a huge television deal for the Top 14, which will boost their purchasing power. England have largely withstood that threat, but Wales have been vulnerable and Ireland, whose tax system has helped them retain their top players, are starting to feel it with Jonathan Sexton at Racing Metro and Jamie Heaslip being linked with a move to France.
I fervently hope this is not the last Heineken Cup. It is an incredible tournament that is totally different to league rugby. Coaches can only watch and wait while the politics are played out, but if I were in charge at one of our leading clubs, I would be concerned at its potential loss.
Saracens were at Toulouse last week, Northampton won in Leinster last month and Leicester face Ulster on Saturday in a match that will decide who wins the group. Gloucester sold out against Munster last weekend when Harlequins had an epic battle with Clermont Auvergne. No one wants to see fixtures like those disappear.
It looks as if only two Premiership teams will be in the quarter-finals. Northampton have a glimmer of a chance and Ospreys have included their big players for the trip to Leinster, but they will be disappointed to be in that position after making such a strong start in the Premiership. The home defeat against Leinster looks to have cost them, one of those days when everything went wrong for them and when that happens in Europe, you pay.
If it is to be the last Heineken Cup, it is fitting that Leicester have made it through. Like Toulouse and Munster, they have become synonymous with the tournament and a win over Ulster will give them a home draw, as long as they do not concede two bonus points.
Their home form has not been as formidable as in past years, but they are a team for the big occasion and, like Munster, they keep going until the very end of a match, giving them the ability to turn defeat into victory as they did in Montpellier. Some of their injured players are returning and they know what it takes to do well in Europe.
The other three home sides may all be French. Toulouse and Clermont face the bottom teams in their pools this weekend while Toulon go to Glasgow. Toulouse have struggled at times this season but the recruitment of Toby Flood, although they are not permitted to announce the signing until April, is significant: not since Rob Andrew more than 20 years ago have they had a 10 who ticks more than one box.
After this weekend, attention will turn to the Six Nations and what has happened in Europe will be no guide to it, as I found with Scotland last season. Wales have not made an impact on the Heineken Cup for a while, but they are looking for a third successive championship title, something that has not been achieved since the early days when only four countries took part.
Wales's regions may be losing players but the national set-up is stable. Warren Gatland announced his squad this week and it was heavy on experience, although they are vulnerable to injuries with not all positions having adequate cover.
There is not that much time to prepare for the Six Nations so consistency in selection and familiarity with the set-up are important. France have done nothing in the Six Nations for the last two years, finishing bottom in 2013 – and that reflected the chopping and changing within the squad.
The Six Nations is all about getting a good start. You get some poor matches, largely because of the weather which was pretty awful last year, and you do not want to be firefighting.
But that comes later. This weekend is all about the Heineken Cup, a tournament that has to survive for the good of the game in every one of the Six Nations. Reported by guardian.co.uk 7 hours ago.