30 Rugby Clubs on Board for Breakaway European Cup but Time Running out for Others

The CEO of Premiership Rugby in England has confirmed that 30 clubs are on board for the breakaway European cup competition and described it as a “train that has left the station.”

The Rugby Champions Cup will launch in 2014-15 and was designed after English and French clubs became disillusioned with the existing Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup.

Premiership Rugby CEO Mark McCafferty told Reuters at Rugby Expo that on top of England and France, the Welsh regions were also committed to the new cup, but warned that others were running out of time.

“It’s sorted. It’s just a question of which teams want to join. Everyone has to make their own decision,” he said.

“For Ireland, Scotland and Italy it can be in or out, but we’re running out of time. We’re in implementation mode now – we’ve had two years of discussions.

“Of course we will still try to find ways to accommodate everyone’s needs – we’ve already made concessions – but we don’t really have any time left.”

The Rugby Champions Cup was born due to discontent in the way club’s qualified for the Heineken Cup, scheduling and distribution of the finances generated.

Last month the Welsh regions ignored opposition from the Welsh Rugby Union to state their intent of joining the new competition.

McCafferty added: “The clubs are telling us they want things in place quickly. They need to organise season tickets, fixtures, broadcast arrangements etc, and those things need to start happening soon.”

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