salmson wrote: Don't be too downhearted. Guardian has it that the ERC board unanimously agreed to withhold payments to all parties for a fortnight while it assesses liabilities in the event that it is wound up this summer. This is of little concern to the unions (IRFU budget of ~60 million is >85% funded by the International game) or the English who have to split their money 12 ways, but the Welsh regions are short 800K sterling from this payment alone, and have had to arrange emergency loans.

www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/feb/06/en...ayments-heineken-cup

It appears the unions have gone over to the attack and are attempting to strong-arm the Welsh regions, we'll know soon whether they'll capitulate or go to court.

It just keeps getting better and better. There has got to be a TV series in here somewhere, a fly on the wall documentary even !

The PRL and the Welsh clubs trying to destroy the Heino and ERC, wipe them off the map....... but, "lads will ye keep paying us that few quid ya owe us before we push the button to finish ye off"

Absolute Father Ted stuff.

Don't be too downhearted. Guardian has it that the ERC board unanimously agreed to withhold payments to all parties for a fortnight while it assesses liabilities in the event that it is wound up this summer. This is of little concern to the unions (IRFU budget of ~60 million is >85% funded by the International game) or the English who have to split their money 12 ways, but the Welsh regions are short 800K sterling from this payment alone, and have had to arrange emergency loans.

www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/feb/06/en...ayments-heineken-cup

It appears the unions have gone over to the attack and are attempting to strong-arm the Welsh regions, we'll know soon whether they'll capitulate or go to court.

Is no one else worried that there will be no Heineken Cup or Pro 12 next season?

Worrying that the Scots weren't present? And I wonder if the PRL now speaks for RRW as well...

Statement from the Directors of ERC

The directors of ERC voted unanimously at a Board meeting to postpone all decisions including the release of further instalments of ERC's distributable central revenues to the six shareholder countries until 19 February next when the Board will meet again to reconsider the issue.

The ERC Board of Directors is made up of representatives from the six unions of England, France, Ireland, Italy, Wales and Scotland, as well as representatives from three club bodies, namely the Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR), Premiership Rugby (PRL) and Regional Rugby Wales (RRW).

(Please see list of Board meeting attendees below)

The vote to postpone any decision followed preliminary advice received by the Board, and was taken in the best interests of the company after lengthy discussions.

The Board agreed unanimously that further detailed legal and other professional advice was necessary in order to facilitate the ongoing discussions in relation to the future of European club rugby tournaments and the distribution of funds deriving from the 2013/14 season.
Each season, ERC makes five payments of its distributable funds from its central revenues to the six participant countries from October through to September.
At the ERC Board meeting of 11 September 2013, it was decided that distribution payments should be approved by the Board before any funds are released. The first payment of €15 million (euro) was made in October 2013 following Board approval.

Mark Dodson and Ian McLauchlan, the directors of ERC representing Scottish Rugby, did not attend today's Board meeting, while Regional Rugby Wales has chosen not to replace Stuart Gallacher who resigned as as a director of ERC in December 2013.

ERC Board directors in attendance:
Jean-Pierre Lux - ERC independent Chairman
Michel Palmié - FFR
Marcel Martin - LNR
Rob Andrew - RFU
Peter Wheeler - PRL
Fabrizio Gaetaniello - FIR
Andrea Rinaldo - FIR
Peter Boyle - IRFU
Philip Browne - IRFU
Roger Lewis - WRU

Also in attendance:
Derek McGrath - ERC
Roger O'Connor - ERC
Steve Phillips - WRU

ERC Board directors not in attendance:
Mark Dodson - SR
Ian McLauchlan - SR
Regional Rugby Wales has chosen not to replace Stuart Gallacher as its Board director

Oh and RRW attended the monthly PRL board meeting today in London.

ERC have a statement up on their website regarding today's meeting. If someone could post it and anyone from a legal or business background could give us their opinion on what it means

Sooooo depressing. At the very least we are looking at PRL and RRW playing in their AWL until the court case is closed, by which time Irish rugby will be back in the dark ages. Scum.

Meeting adjourned to wed 12/2 in Heathrow. Hopefully a sign of progress.

Guys ye're all depressing me..
So if we want to see Connacht playing away this season is our last chance... well there's an idea

Paul Rees' article in the Guardian (I mainly read him more for entertainment than information) had a headline that said the same thing but then in the first paragraph said "... adamant that all that will stop them is agreement over a six-nation European Cup".
So it suggests that there is still a chance of sorting something out at today's meeting.
You're probably right though, it'll all end in the High Court.

Gerry thornley says today in times that the Anglo welsh league is now a done deal and will be announced early next week. RRW are not for turning at this point and will not be told what to do by WRU. Its heading to court lads and the pro12 and Heineken cup are in limbo until its sorted.
RFU can stop it but AFAIK it will still go to court as private owners in wales and England seek to rid themselves of the shackles of union and irb control. I have to admit that all this is testing my love for the game.

How will a pro 8 work? Irish rugby is under serious threat from these guys.

Yet another crunch meeting this morning in Heathrow.
This one has the English journalists excited as PRL and RFU are attending along with 4 pro12 unions, ffr and lnr. The only ones missing will be RRW who resigned from board before Xmas. Lol.
RRW must be the worst run organisation in the history of sport and that's saying something when you think of Leeds utd, Newcastle utd, rangers etc.
Its the first time that they have all been together since October. Rumour mill saying FFR are willing to allow 6ns comitee run competition with 3 leagues looking after commercial aspect. Irfu apparently are the ones against it.

salmson wrote:

rossie wrote: That will most likely be a two division league with relegation etc between both.

You won't find half our PRL buddies, ourselves, and the majority of the Welsh and Scottish teams volunteering for a second division. If it happens it'll be conferences and American football style playoffs.

If this happens it will be to maximise TV revenue in a similar vein to the top14. That will involve having the best teams competing against each other on a weekly basis. The top division will be the top 6 from both leagues. The 2nd tier will be the other teams from Celtic rugby, the 6 remsing a viva teams and probably top 4 in championship. There will be promotion /relegation between the two.

IMO its a long way away yet though. 5yrs maybe.

Not just the PRL, but the Championship teams would have to have a major say, that is 34 teams potential in all, assuming no Italians.

rossie wrote: That will most likely be a two division league with relegation etc between both.

You won't find half our PRL buddies, ourselves, and the majority of the Welsh and Scottish teams volunteering for a second division. If it happens it'll be conferences and American football style playoffs.