The opening round of fixtures in the Heineken Cup was bound to bring with it more comment on the future of the tournament and so it proved.
The Observer carried an interview with Matthew Rees talking about how players will move to further international ambitions.
The BBC gave online coverage to agent Tim Lopez who spoke of the fact that many clubs beyond Europe would be looking at players involved in Britain and Ireland and preparing bids to bring them to an environment which gave security of profile and financial reward.
The Daily Telegraph gave a platform to Brian Moore who condemned European Rugby Cup Limited for not having acted with enough speed or concessions to keep the present format alive.
It appears now that a meeting will be held between the Celtic unions this week, brokered by the English Rugby Football Union at which concessions on a merit based qualification process and division of financial spoils will be made.
This would head off the summit meeting called by ERC for October 23rd and may signal the end of the current status quo. Â The TV deals depend on who emerges as the principal organiser of the ‘new’ tournament that will likely emerge.
From the fans, players and provinces perspective it will bring a degree of certainty about what happens after this season, and will enable more long term planning that has perhaps been possible since English and French clubs gave notice to quit.
Discussions can then begin in earnest on either a renewal or replacement of Heineken as the main sponsor of European Rugby and for a replacement of RaboDirect who will end their association with the RaboDirect Pro 12 in May as well.
These are very challenging times for professional rugby. Â It may be though that this week will make the landscape in which to will be operating a lot clearer than it has been.
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Irish Sponsorship Awards
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Youth Sports Conference
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