The worry is that they have stacked it so high at this stage that they can't climb down off it. The French won't play without the English so it could all be over anyway!

rossie wrote: I think sanzar would have a lot to say about that considering SA teams are signed up to new agreement for super rugby.

May very well have, but it's part of the image that PRL's clubs' chairmen are trying to create for this new super "European" competition. Along with all the talk of Premiership games in NFL stadiums, despite the fact that there is absolutely no market for English Rugby teams in the States (their plan is to try cash in on the Not Not's and the Irish Diaspora, the same reason they desperately want the Provinces in the new tournament despite all the bluster)...

Smoke and mirror's on a monumental scale. Really didn't realise that they could pile shite so high... :dry:

I think sanzar would have a lot to say about that considering SA teams are signed up to new agreement for super rugby.

if S-A clubs join, the "2nd" cup could still be interesting

let's imagine the new international cup :

5 S-A provinces
5 French
5 English
5 Robo

It remains in the European cup (with Connacht), based on last year table : Scarlets, Ulster or Munster, Exeter, Gloucester, Perpignan, Stade Français, Racing Métro... Some quite attractive names to make the competition profitable

St Placide wrote: This morning's Midi-Olympique, the French rugby newspaper, for the first time devotes a lot of coverage to the future of European rugby.

There's nothing new in most of it other than the observation that two Welsh clubs have signed up to the Rugby Champions Cup. There's also a headline interview with Bruce Craig [quelle surprise!], again nothing new, other than clarification of the point that no non-European sides will be invited to enter.

Seems like Mr Craig (Bath) and Mr Wray (Saracens) could do with an introduction.

Wray in talking to the Rugby Paper last weekend was talking about the Saffers leaving "super" rugby because of the time zone issue and tiny TV revenue to join the new competition...

The WRU has already said that Welsh provinces are not allowed to enter. If they have two clubs signed on (as in Newport and Neath) then fair enough, but I'd imagine that they'll soon find themselves under a lot of pressure to withdraw.

This morning's Midi-Olympique, the French rugby newspaper, for the first time devotes a lot of coverage to the future of European rugby.

There's nothing new in most of it other than the observation that two Welsh clubs have signed up to the Rugby Champions Cup. There's also a headline interview with Bruce Craig [quelle surprise!], again nothing new, other than clarification of the point that no non-European sides will be invited to enter.

rossie wrote: And BT have announced price rises of 6.5% in January for all their services to pay for sports, broadband upgrades and help provide return for shareholders. Apparently BT get 6 times more complaints than the national ave.

They are useless, couldn't get away from them fast enough if I'm honest. But having such a market share they are in a strong position no doubt.

I feel sorry for anyone who has to contact their incompetent call centers

rossie wrote: RFU and ffr are contractually obliged to supply teams AFAIK. Lnr control d2 in France though. As shareholders lnr are prob obliged also but have served notice.
Problem is that no one would pay to watch!

We would! I fancy our chances against that lot!

RFU and ffr are contractually obliged to supply teams AFAIK. Lnr control d2 in France though. As shareholders lnr are prob obliged also but have served notice.
Problem is that no one would pay to watch!

I have wondered this alright. If the championship clubs were allowed in I wonder how many would take it. The championship is a delicate matter over there. Most of their grounds are too small for the premiership and if any teams gain promotion, other than a small few, they are usually denied it because of this. Look at London Welsh bringing it to court.

If they were seen to go against PRL they may feel it would do them more harm when looking for promotion.

It would be brilliant though, I would love to see the PRL reaction.

rossie wrote: BT show the AP in UK and sky show the eng championship or 2nd division. So far sky art getting 30% more viewers for 2nd division than BT are getting for peemiership.

I wonder are the Championship clubs a possible alternative for an interim European competition in the increasingly likely event that no deal is reached with PRL for next season? Championship is run by the RFU right? So essentially it would be an expanded B&I Cup with PRO12 and Championship teams (and invitation open to French which would most likely be refused).
Standard of Championship seems to have improved and it is now at least in theory fully professional.

BT show the AP in UK and sky show the eng championship or 2nd division. So far sky art getting 30% more viewers for 2nd division than BT are getting for peemiership.

illplaybymyself wrote: anyone else notice that sky have been very quiet on the matter, surly they have something big comming that will blow this nonsence out of the water

I was thinking the same myself. Maybe they know something we don't, maybe they know BT are not a real threat. They will not let the HEC go lightly, especially after committing to PRO 12 next year

And BT have announced price rises of 6.5% in January for all their services to pay for sports, broadband upgrades and help provide return for shareholders. Apparently BT get 6 times more complaints than the national ave.

That's correct in relation to RFU/PRL. RFU allow PRL rep sit at table and vote but retain the full English share. Peter wheeler of Leicester tigers is PRLs ERC board member and he is vice chair of PRL also which has to be a conflict of interest. AFAIK his signature is on the ERC sky deal also.
FFR signed over just under half of their ERC share to LNR so they are shareholders. The LNRs ERC board member is Rene Bouscetal of Toulouse who's signature is also on the ERC sky deal and he chaired the ERC comitee that negotiated the sky deal. He had a PRL member on his comitee also by the name of Hayes.

The BT deal as kindly posted here by diom is gone all over the world and is now called the leaked BT deal. The pretence is dropped and its causing quite a stir everywhere.