Headway over Heineken Cup

Published on 31/10/2012 00:00

European Rugby Cup Limited will examine two alternative proposals for a new-look Heineken Cup competition.

ERC will evaluate plans for a 20-team tournament, tabled by the English and French clubs, and the Rabodirect PRO12 proposal for a 32-team competition.The results of the evaluation 
will be presented at the next meeting of ERC stakeholders, 
to be held in London on 12 
December.

Premiership Rugby and their French counterparts want all teams in a new-look competition to qualify on merit, removing the guaranteed places 
currently enjoyed by PRO12 clubs.

But the Celtic and Italian clubs have staunchly opposed the Anglo-French proposal and have not been willing to give up guaranteed qualification.

“This evaluation will examine the rationale for the proposed changes to both tournaments, as well as the impact on all stakeholders of any change to the format and structure of the competitions,” the ERC said in a statement.

Any changes would come into force from 2014.