WTF are English rugby doing?

[Don1]

Breaking news that the European championship next year is to go ahead without English clubs.

[DJRC]

Which we have all known for the last yr. Without the French aswell. They are setting up their own championship. Essentially the HC is dead.

[Don1]

No, breaking news tonight that Ireland, Wales, France, Italy and Scottish teams are playing in the tournament. English teams are out.

[Don1]

Apologies for the poor spelling - was getting nattered at....

[FIK]

Just read this and thought exactly the same! What's the RFU going to do now?

[hornetrider]

One would imagine the English clubs will now fall into line. All that was ever needed was a bit of reorganisation.

[DJRC]

There is no breaking news, this is just the Unions doing what they have said from the start. It is all about the clubs, the breakaway has been lead by the English and French clubs from the start, the unions haven't been involved.

[Don1]

Yes it was breaking news, as the French clubs have fallen in line, leaving the English out in the cold.

[12TS]

The French union may have, but not the French clubs (not the Welsh clubs) will be interesting to see how this pans out.

[12TS]

The French union may have, but not the French clubs (not the Welsh clubs) will be interesting to see how this pans out.

[12TS]

The French union may have, but not the French clubs (not the Welsh clubs) will be interesting to see how this pans out.

[FIK]

French clubs have now voted to stay in the Heineken Cup therefore leaving only the English clubs not at the party.

[anonymous-user]

The English categorically ruled out joining an ERC tournament - and there's speculation that the deal they've signed with BT would prevent them from doing so anyway - so they're in a bit of a pickle really. TBH I don't expect the Welsh regions to last very long in the current scenario either, they could be gone in a year or two.

[hornetrider]

The WRU are certainly reaming regional rugby as it stands. I still expect Premier rugby to fall into line, albeit with some redistribution of wealth achieved.

[DJRC]

Well it is certainly a strange position from the French clubs. They have said they will be back in the HC...but only if the English clubs agree! The Welsh clubs have said yes to the HC, but also yes, very interested in any Anglo-French competition.

And the money HAS been redistributed according to new rules for the HC from next yr allegedly. Damn weird all round.

[anonymous-user]

DJRC said:

Well it is certainly a strange position from the French clubs. They have said they will be back in the HC...but only if the English clubs agree! The Welsh clubs have said yes to the HC, but also yes, very interested in any Anglo-French competition.

And the money HAS been redistributed according to new rules for the HC from next yr allegedly. Damn weird all round.

The Welsh clubs wanted the RCC, but the WRU didn't. As usual, it's a right bloody shambles over here.

[DJRC]

Well the French clubs have been leant heavily on by their Union to tow the line and done so but in lip service only by the "English clubs also" thing. The Premier League are busy looking at the Bok clubs aswell as new financial rules from the HC and the RFU are shrugging their shoulders and saying they don't really care either way. So it would appear to be 3 out of the 6 Establishments where things are truely buggered.

Amazingly uselessness all round.

Can we not just put Geech and Jim Telfer in charge of everything and leave them to it?

[anonymous-user]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/25255119

I wonder.

[hornetrider]

The WRU have been bumming RRW for quite some time now. Playing the Sais will draw in the crowds, so who can blame the clubs? I personally put this one at the WRU's door.

[Derek Smith]

Symbolica said:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/25255119

I wonder.

I remember being told that you couldn't score and own goal in rugby. It is a shame that it doesn't apply to RFUs.

I have to say that much of what goes on in the sport, the rules and regs about who can play where, appear to be, quite clearly, restraint of trade. I would think that the WRFU will not want this to go to court so an agreement will be reached.

We have a resurgent Wales: good for rugby, good for Wales, good for UK rugby. Let's not let it go.