The optimism we revealed yesterday with regard to Irish Rugby at club and provincial level is not being shared in England, despite new increased funding for clubs in the second tier Championship.
Threats of English clubs withdrawing from the Heineken Cup have once again resurfaced with Aviva premiership boss Mark McCafferty quoted in the Guardian newspaper stating that English and French clubs are ready to start their own competition in opposition to what they see as a bias away from the clubs of the two biggest competing nations.
The fact that Ireland has won the tournament for five years is down in his opinion to the ability of provinces to rest key players in the RaboDirect Pro12, a luxury English clubs cannot afford given that the domestic competition there is responsible for 80% of club revenues.
The ERC have said that discussions are continuing ahead of the next agreement on the Heineken and Amlin Cups which will not come into effect for another two seasons.
English clubs are also at loggerheads with each other over proposed qualification changes prompted by London Welsh’s ascension to the top flight despite not meeting certain of the criteria laid down by the major clubs.  A court ruling that their not having security of tenure should not prevent their playing in the Premiership is being read differently by both sides in a long running war of words.
Championship clubs will though gain more comfort from an increase in funding for clubs at that level from the English Rugby Football Union, assisted in part by increased sponsorship agreements coming into play at national level.
The RFU has increased its financial underwriting in relation to title sponsorship of the Championship while efforts continue to attract a commercial partner.  This agreement will give stability over a four year period and is based on clubs fielding a minimum of 15 English qualified players, up from 14, in their 22 man match day squad.
Additional travel assistance will be made available for clubs playing in the British and Irish Cup and those who make it to the knock out stages will also receive a financial reward for the first time.
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