English clubs join forces with French to put future of European Cup in doubt

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

The doomsday scenario for the Heineken Cup became a grim reality during a five-hour meeting of the English clubs at Heathrow.

Scroll down for more

Taking their ball home: England's Premiership clubs voted to join the French boycott of Europe

Their unanimous decision to form an Anglo-French alliance will destroy next season's competition unless the RFU can broker a last-ditch peace deal.

They are likely to take advice challenging the legality of the clubs' withdrawal rather than agree to their demand for a 50 per cent split of the RFU's share-holding in European Rugby Cup Ltd.

The French reached their boycott decision in February. A statement from Premier Rugby Ltd, representing the Premiership 12, plus Leeds, made it clear that the door had not been shut.

"The clubs remain committed to European competition involving all the current participants," they said. "However, the European Cup without the leading French clubs is not a genuine European competition and the (Premiership) clubs have agreed unanimously not to participate in any such competition without the French next season.

"Premier Rugby will continue to work strenuously over the next few weeks to find a solution leading to a genuine European competition.

"We stand by our proposals to the RFU which would provide significantly increased player release time for England.

"Premier Rugby want their clubs to have equal shares and votes with the RFU in a new five-year commitment to European competition.

"We have been negotiating for the last 16 months to establish a new agreement once the current one ends after this season.

"It is a point of frustration that an agreement in principle reached last October with our European partners has been rejected by the RFU."