I'm not sure its that simple for RRW.

AFAIK they have to apply to the RFU to join English league system while also serving notice to quit the WRU. The RFU have to accept that application and roger lewis says that they have assured him that they will not accept regions without wru consent.

I think the pro12 will go ahead next season. However beforehand RRW and WRU will insist on 1/3 of European money and sky money before committing. In addition Italians will refuse to pay anything and demand their share of sky woney. This combined with a watery version of the Heineken cup which in its current proposed format of 8 French and 12 pro12 teams which has no credibility will hasten the requirement for a B+I league to replace both the pro12 and a viva.
That will most likely be a two division league with relegation etc between both.

I heard that, sounds like an orchestrated campaign.

The Welsh situation seems incredible and it seems highly likely that the regions will reject the WRU offer on the 31 Jan and announce intention to join up with PRL. Then we are in uncharted territory. Will WRU disband them. How will Championship teams react (blue murder IMO); how will RFU react? If they support PRL against IRB, what happens to World Cup, and even if that is managed, what happens later.

I would like the idea of a strong B&I league, but could not trust either the PRL or the welsh regions, it must have full Union control.

Interesting times, but the prospect of no leagues next year in Pro 12 land remains a possibility.

Still firmly believe that IRFU should negotiate to get 4 provinces to join French leagues, maybe 3 in top 16 and Connacht in lower division. Unlikely to ever happen, but I dream.

Warburton has taken dogs abuse on twitter and glwad since the announcement of his central contract. So much so that his agent had to release a statement on his behalf and journos like simon Thomas are blocking followers on twitter for abusing him.
It was mentioned on scrum 5 tonight also.

Sam Warburton has signed a central contract with WRU.

Saw B+I league rumour last night on twitter. Didn't post it as only source seems to be simon Thomas ATM. He uses twitter all the time to further his profile. On this story he claims the source is someone he really trusts. That's it.
He says that wru, sru and RFU/prl are agreed but IRFU are resisting. Then he looks for a straw poll via twitter.

If there is any truth to it we will be in it. It must be to replace pro12 and be a 2 division format with promotion/ relegation. Otherwise its a plaster.

I for one would be against it I'm a celatalian and proud of it.

Whispers of a combined British and Irish league, it seems. Gonna be an interesting week.

Edit: www.reddit.com/r/rugbyunion/comments/1w2..._thomas_welsh_rugby/

rossie wrote: There's a lot of optimism on twitter tonight particularly among English media that a deal is close. 6ns governance with clubs negotiating commercial deals and shared rights is the speculation.

Hope that is true, whole thing is such a drama. Time to end it one way or another.

There's a lot of optimism on twitter tonight particularly among English media that a deal is close. 6ns governance with clubs negotiating commercial deals and shared rights is the speculation.

The IMF wrote:

rossie wrote: Just after noticing that no pro12 team has qualified for the amlin qtr finals!

says a lot about the league atm.

I had to double check, which pro12 team(s) were in the amlin!

In fairness to Dragons, and I guess this is ultimately rossie's point, despite all of Bruce Craig's posturing how the amlin was a second rate competition they really went after the QF place.

3rd,4th and 5th ranked 2nd placed teams in heineken cup groups make qtrs of amlin. Gloucester qualified on 14 pts afaik. It means that with exception of irish big 3 no other pro12 team were competitive.

I mentioned it as 20 team heineken will contain all 12 pro12 teams aparently if english remain outside.

rossie wrote: Just after noticing that no pro12 team has qualified for the amlin qtr finals!

says a lot about the league atm.

I had to double check, which pro12 team(s) were in the amlin!

In fairness to Dragons, and I guess this is ultimately rossie's point, despite all of Bruce Craig's posturing how the amlin was a second rate competition they really went after the QF place.

Just after noticing that no pro12 team has qualified for the amlin qtr finals!

says a lot about the league atm.

columoc wrote: If this is so, could it be that there was never a BT deal in the first place, I mean no one ever saw it?

The greatest trick [strike]Nigel Wray[/strike] the devil ever pulled, was convincing people the deal didn't exist.

rossie wrote:
Rumour from england is that BT have agreed to step back and allow PRL play if they want. Speculation is that they want the AIs and need to build relations with unions to achieve this.

If this is so, could it be that there was never a BT deal in the first place, I mean no one ever saw it?

The 6 unions are meeting tomorrow. The RFU have been invited so there must be progress. Also Donal lenihan is saying today that a 20 team Heineken cup competition will be confirmed this week

Rumour from england is that BT have agreed to step back and allow PRL play if they want. Speculation is that they want the AIs and need to build relations with unions to achieve this.

Honestly, they are getting sillier by the day. Reality has not landed yet.

www.thescore.ie/heineken-cup-stand-off-w...ons-1272911-Jan2014/

Never like him as a fly half either.

Nope.

1. It's the Daily Mail - part of PRL dirty tricks campaign
2. It's the Daily Mail!
3. Italians want a better deal (it costs them a lot to participate)but want to play

All coming to conclusion soon. (though lots of screaming and shouting first - except some wild media speculation in coming days)
French TV deal is done- happy bunnies. PRL isolated and have backs to wall. RRW and WRU trying to make up and save face.

No one wins, but those who kept their powder dry will have lost less, IRFU, SRU, Sky.

The noisy children lose most: RRW lose credibility and power, PRL lose credibility but more especially trust from everyone else,(who would back a B&I league with them); RFU have shown how weak they really are; HEC has become devalued - no PRL, French really don't need it.

BT come out neutral, they lost nothing that they didn't have, and get the PRL on the cheap.