Very shoddy reporting from english media on this again, especially the Guardian. Their story said: "The Amlin Challenge Cup would be shelved, both on grounds of cost and because there would not be enough teams to take part" which gave me worry.

[strike]But the statement from the ERC clearly states that there would be two competitions.[/strike]
[strike]
Edit: Actually, I was reading the mediators statement from October. The statement released by WRU does say 'A' competition. Doesn't mention anything about the amlin. Potentially disastrous for Connacht?

Edit II: Back In The Habit: this from the Guardian: "Camou told the meeting he was confident five Top 14 would remain in ERC and that he was looking for three more to join with the 12 RaboDirect Pro 12 teams in a 20-strong Heineken Cup. The Amlin Challenge Cup would be shelved, both on grounds of cost and because there would not be enough teams to take part."

Seems fairly clear that there won't be an Amlin next year until these rules.[/strike]

Edit III: Because there won't be enough teams for an Amlin and a HC if the English aren't involved. Calm yerself, Sol.

And the story from the IT:

www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/internati...-next-year-1.1602985

I'm delighted with this news, there were times when it didn't look as though this would pan out well at all

From WRU website:

A meeting was held in Dublin today, attended by FFR, FIR, IRFU, SRU and WRU, to discuss the on-going issues surrounding European club competitions.

All five Unions believe that it is critical to the interests of the game in Europe that the Unions are at the heart of the governance of cross-border club competitions given that rugby in each country is organised in a pyramidical structure.

Clubs, provinces and regional organisations form an integral part of the development of the game throughout this structure, from grassroots to the international game. Cross-border club competitions must not conflict with the development of the sport in Europe by Unions, this being in the best interest of players, spectators and the sport in general.

The five Unions reconfirmed:
• Their agreement with the new competition formats and financial distribution formula previously agreed by the six Unions who attended the mediated meeting in Dublin on 23-24 October ( www.ercrugby.com/news/25300.php ).

Following today's discussions, the five Unions have agreed the following:

• A European club competition is to take place during the 2014/2015 season following an optimised sporting and economic format with 20 teams, no matter how many countries are involved.

• The competition will be driven by the existing organisation (currently named ERC) which will remain in charge of the centralised sale and management of all commercial rights, amongst other things.

• Discussions over governance will be pursued in order to optimise the internal functioning of the existing organisation (currently named ERC).

• The common aim is to move eventually towards the integration of European competitions within an all-encompassing European rugby framework.

Wru have the statement up on their site if anyone can post it here.

Statement due at 7pm

5 nations met today, without england. statement due later this evening but believed that the Heineken cup and Amlin will go ahead without the English

Ah yeah, read that in the Guardian - but they tend to be so pro-premiership my eyes glazed over.

Interesting few weeks ahead. Good to see the FFR throwing a bit of weight behind the ERC. Will be interesting to see what WRU do, they are focusing on keeping players in Wales until after WC. Ourselves, the Scots and the Italians are sure bets for the HC.

Sol_ie wrote: So, it looks like the French are back in the fold (it seems like under massive pressure from the FFR). Would I be right in saying that the only representatives not at the table at the moment and the French, English and Welsh clubs, with the English clubs the only definate no no?

Nearly correct. The English union have not been invited to the meeting (confirmed in the English press where RFU chief Ian Ritchie is said to be trying to "restart negotiations").

So, it looks like the French are back in the fold (it seems like under massive pressure from the FFR). Would I be right in saying that the only representatives not at the table at the moment and the French, English and Welsh clubs, with the English clubs the only definate no no?

Looks like this is going to pan out how I feared it would all along, with the English locked out of Europe until their BT deal runs out. A 5 nation Heineken Cup would obviously avoid any court cases and allows Sky to punish the English clubs for going with another broadcaster.

www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/unions-to...llenge-cup-1.1599260

After losing the Champions League to BT (and 10% off their share price that day) Sky were bound to play hardball.

Both BT and Sky ahve been remarkably quiet so far. Gonna wait for the format to solidify, and then sue, sue, sue?

Sky are losing the Champions League to BT in 2015 (I think). I wonder will this impact Sky's efforts to keep the Heineken Cup alive

FFR starting to lay down the law.
www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/pierre-ca...play-in-hc-1.1591436
Rumour that sky are providing the money behind this. Even if not all lnr teams are interested there are lots of good pro teams in other divisions who will bite their hands off.

No, in that case the 7 automatic qualifiers are the 4 Irish provinces and the best team from each of the other 3 countries.

Ga1wegian wrote: By that reckoning either a Welsh or Irish team could finish 4th and not qualify, for example:
1 Ireland
2 Ireland
3 Ireland
4 Ireland
5 Wales
6 Wales (Q)
7 Wales (Q)
8 Wales
9 Scotland
10 Scotland
11 Italy
12 Italy
Not likely, but possible

By that reckoning either a Welsh or Irish team could finish 4th and not qualify, for example:
1 Ireland
2 Ireland
3 Ireland
4 Ireland
5 Wales
6 Wales
7 Wales
8 Wales
9 Scotland
10 Scotland
11 Italy
12 Italy
Not likely, but possible

Sol_ie wrote: Would that not be 7th is a guarnteed playoff space? What if both Scottish and Italian teams happened to be below 7th?

You're right, we could finish 8th and not get a playoff berth.
1 Ireland
2 Wales
3 Ireland
4 Wales
5 Ireland
6 Wales (Qualifier)
7 Wales (Qualifier)
8 Connacht
9 Scotland
10 Italy
11 Scotland
12 Italy