Heineken Cup TV Talks to Resume Next Month

The future of the Heineken Cup will not be resolved until next month after a five-hour meeting in Dublin yesterday ended without a resolution.

European Rugby Cup (ERC) executives said”productive” talks with all stakeholders would resume in Rome on October 8.

But Premiership Rugby, price which is representing the English clubs, pills are in dispute with with ERC after both parties agreed conflicting television contracts that due to become effective in 2014.

Premiership Rugby agreed a £152million (US$246m) contract with BT Vision, to try to establish a “dazzling new European tournament” when the current Heineken Cup participation agreement ends.

But ERC signed its own Heineken Cup broadcasting contract with Sky from 2014 and said Premiership Rugby had broken International Rugby Board (IRCB) regulations by choosing a solo deal.

The Rugby Football Union (RFU) said they had not given the clubs permission to strike a separate  deal with BT Vision.

Premiership Rugby believes its plan to restructure the Heineken Cup would greatly benefit the European game financially.

But, an official ERC statement issued after the meeting of 17 executives focused only the beginning of a formulation of a new Heineken Cup deal.

The statement read: “Representatives of ERC stakeholders met in Dublin today (yesterday) to begin the formulation of a new accord which provides for the structure and format of European club rugby tournaments for the 2014/15 season and beyond.

“The meeting included productive discussions regarding the future of the club game in Europe with a general resolve among all stakeholders to reach agreement towards a new accord.

“It was decided that all parties would continue the consultative process at a meeting in Rome on October 8, 2012.”{jcomments on}