European Cup peace bid ends in failure

The refusal of the RFU and the Premiership clubs to budge from their polarised positions yesterday left the warring factions as far apart as ever. Eight hours of talks in Dublin failed to offer any sign of a deal to avert the Anglo-French boycott.

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Out in the cold: Sides such as Wasps have yet to return to the fold

The organisers were adamant that a European Cup will take place next season involving teams from all six competing countries, raising the prospect of the English Premiership clubs being replaced by those from the First Division.

"It was agreed that a European club rugby tournament will be staged next season, including teams from all six of the current participating nations," said a statement from European Rugby Cup Ltd. "The structure of the tournament will be discussed and created by the board in the coming weeks."

In an selfless attempt to shift the impasse over the RFU's refusal to share their 16.6 per cent shareholding with the Premiership, French Rugby Federation president Bernard Lapasset offered to give the French clubs 15.6 per cent of their shareholding.

The significance of the amount is that it would have given the French clubs, in league with the English, enough clout to block any changes in the running of the event which required an 85 per cent majority.

It failed because the English clubs have insisted all along that they be treated as equal partners by their own Union.

The mistrust between both parties has increased the grim reality of next season's competition being a watered-down version of the real thing, so much so that Heineken, the perennial sponsors, are understood to be considering their position in the midst of the wrangle.

The English First Division clubs are as confused by the row as anyone else.

"We stand as piggy-in-the-middle," their chief executive Geoff Cooke, the former England manager, said. "We have had no formal proposals. All we can do is watch and wait and see what develops."

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Piggy in the middle: Geoff Cooke

Premier Rugby chief executive Mark McCafferty said: "Granting us equal status has always been crucial because it is the only thing which will bring the French clubs back into the competition.

"Therefore, if there concerns about that we have to explore those concerns. If the RFU is concerned that we are going to go awol at some stage in the future, then we can give undertakings that that will not be the case as part of a new agreement.

"If we were to step out of the competition, we would recognise tht our shares would be transferred back to the RFU and ERC. We have no interest in going awol from International Board governance.

"I made these points to try and alleviate concerns others may have about us. The new agreement needs to be for a seven-year period and the English clubs need to know that the qualification criteria for the Heineken Cup would apply to the leading Premiership clubs in any given season.

"We need that commitment, not the threat of alternative teams other than those finishing highest in the Premiership. Our Union does not seem willing to commit beyond two years. We cannot understand why, unless there is some other agenda.Our interest is purely to be recognised as equal partners in a long-term agreement."

RFU chairman Martyn Thomas said: "We are delighted there will be a European rugby tournament involving English clubs next season. We hope that those will be from the Guinness Premiership and, as rugby's governing body, we are committed to English clubs participating in the competition."