• Clubs and regions plan alternative to Heineken Cup
• Only six-nation European Cup will prevent new league
England's 12 Premiership clubs and Wales's four regions are this week pressing ahead with plans for an Anglo-Welsh league next season, adamant that all that will stop them is agreement over a six-nation European Cup, not unions invoking International Rugby Board regulations.
The clubs and the regions set a deadline of last Friday for a resolution over Europe, and while they have not abandoned all hope that the two issues that have proved obstacles to an agreement, governance and television rights, will be overcome, a meeting of the Premiership's chairman and shareholders on Wednesday is expected to give the go-ahead for an Anglo-Welsh league.
Under the terms of the agreement Premiership Rugby has with the Rugby Football Union, Twickenham would need to sanction an increase of the number of clubs in English rugby's top flight. It would need to give detailed reasons if it refused permission, and without a European Cup next season the clubs believe the governing body would struggle to justify a refusal. No public statement is expected until after this weekend's Six Nations matches.
The clubs and the regions have both taken legal advice and are prepared to go to the high court to win the right for self-determination. The preferred option for both is a six-nation European Cup, but not if it is run by the organisers of the Heineken Cup, European Rugby Cup Ltd, whose board meets in Dublin on Wednesday.
Premiership Rugby will be sending its ERC director, Peter Wheeler, to the meeting, after ERC failed to hand over the latest instalment of participation money to the six countries involved. The clubs and regions are concerned that ERC is trying to cover itself for potential liabilities should it cease trading at the end of the season but Premiership Rugby has not considered pulling its two quarter-finalists, Saracens and Leicester, out of this season's Heineken Cup should the money continue to be withheld.
The clubs believe that Ireland hold the key to a resolution over Europe. The English and Scottish unions are more relaxed about clubs controlling the commercial arm of the tournament than the Irish and Welsh but the prospect of no tournament next season, and the consequent loss of revenue, is focusing minds. Even if governance is agreed, Premiership Rugby is adamant BT Sport will have the exclusive television rights to the tournament while ERC last year agreed a contract extension with Sky.
Ireland host Wales at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday in a match expected to have a bearing on the outcome of the Six Nations title. Both sides won in the opening round but Wales were more unconvincing in defeating Italy by eight points than Ireland were in their 28-6 victory over Scotland on Sunday.
"Ireland did a professional job on Scotland and after the way they played against New Zealand in the autumn, I would say they will go into the game as slight favourites," said the Wales defence coach, Shaun Edwards. "We have had some great battles with them over the years, winning some and losing others, and I had butterflies making notes on Ireland on Sunday, a sure sign of a really big game coming up."
The only injury Wales picked up on Saturday was to their pride, failing to build on a 17-3 first-half lead. The head coach Warren Gatland announces his team on Tuesday and has the option of recalling three of his summer Lions in South Africa, Sam Warburton, Gethin Jenkins and Jonathan Davies, who returned from injury for the Scarlets on the weekend.
"We know we will have to perform better this Saturday, but the first game in the Six Nations is always tough," said the Wales scrum-half, Mike Phillips. "Ireland will be tough to break down and they have threats all over the park but we have to put things right in training and go there with confidence." Reported by guardian.co.uk 59 minutes ago.
• Only six-nation European Cup will prevent new league
England's 12 Premiership clubs and Wales's four regions are this week pressing ahead with plans for an Anglo-Welsh league next season, adamant that all that will stop them is agreement over a six-nation European Cup, not unions invoking International Rugby Board regulations.
The clubs and the regions set a deadline of last Friday for a resolution over Europe, and while they have not abandoned all hope that the two issues that have proved obstacles to an agreement, governance and television rights, will be overcome, a meeting of the Premiership's chairman and shareholders on Wednesday is expected to give the go-ahead for an Anglo-Welsh league.
Under the terms of the agreement Premiership Rugby has with the Rugby Football Union, Twickenham would need to sanction an increase of the number of clubs in English rugby's top flight. It would need to give detailed reasons if it refused permission, and without a European Cup next season the clubs believe the governing body would struggle to justify a refusal. No public statement is expected until after this weekend's Six Nations matches.
The clubs and the regions have both taken legal advice and are prepared to go to the high court to win the right for self-determination. The preferred option for both is a six-nation European Cup, but not if it is run by the organisers of the Heineken Cup, European Rugby Cup Ltd, whose board meets in Dublin on Wednesday.
Premiership Rugby will be sending its ERC director, Peter Wheeler, to the meeting, after ERC failed to hand over the latest instalment of participation money to the six countries involved. The clubs and regions are concerned that ERC is trying to cover itself for potential liabilities should it cease trading at the end of the season but Premiership Rugby has not considered pulling its two quarter-finalists, Saracens and Leicester, out of this season's Heineken Cup should the money continue to be withheld.
The clubs believe that Ireland hold the key to a resolution over Europe. The English and Scottish unions are more relaxed about clubs controlling the commercial arm of the tournament than the Irish and Welsh but the prospect of no tournament next season, and the consequent loss of revenue, is focusing minds. Even if governance is agreed, Premiership Rugby is adamant BT Sport will have the exclusive television rights to the tournament while ERC last year agreed a contract extension with Sky.
Ireland host Wales at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday in a match expected to have a bearing on the outcome of the Six Nations title. Both sides won in the opening round but Wales were more unconvincing in defeating Italy by eight points than Ireland were in their 28-6 victory over Scotland on Sunday.
"Ireland did a professional job on Scotland and after the way they played against New Zealand in the autumn, I would say they will go into the game as slight favourites," said the Wales defence coach, Shaun Edwards. "We have had some great battles with them over the years, winning some and losing others, and I had butterflies making notes on Ireland on Sunday, a sure sign of a really big game coming up."
The only injury Wales picked up on Saturday was to their pride, failing to build on a 17-3 first-half lead. The head coach Warren Gatland announces his team on Tuesday and has the option of recalling three of his summer Lions in South Africa, Sam Warburton, Gethin Jenkins and Jonathan Davies, who returned from injury for the Scarlets on the weekend.
"We know we will have to perform better this Saturday, but the first game in the Six Nations is always tough," said the Wales scrum-half, Mike Phillips. "Ireland will be tough to break down and they have threats all over the park but we have to put things right in training and go there with confidence." Reported by guardian.co.uk 59 minutes ago.