New European Rugby Club Competition Annouced...

[Gromit]

Without any English clubs.

The other 5 European Rugby Unions have announced a 20 team replacement for the Heineken Cup, to start next year.

Between them, have the RFU and the Premier teams cocked up big style?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/club/10466774/RFU-fury-as-French-Celtic-and-Italian-unions-agree-new-look-20-team-European-tournament.html

[grumpy01]

Possibly not as much as BT

[ChillDoubt]

Maybe other nations unions are cheesed off with the RFU, who decide to show all their home games (AI's mainly) on Sky, whilst all the other home nations go with terrestrial?

[jno]

depends... the French seem to be having it both ways at the moment; their clubs may not be happy.

It's a bit like the EEC all over again, isn't it?

[ichkeria]

The English clubs will be there. This is something of an odd development, because I thought that there'd been an agreement already reached. The writing was on the wall for the breakaway when Toulon came out some time ago and said they'd take part in the Heineken Cup regardless.
Serves the RFU right. Regardless of the merit of theirs and the French grievances, thumbing your nose at the governing body is never a smart move but it shows how fragile rugby is when it comes to these things.