Future of European Cup is bright

The future of the European Cup and Conference seems assured despite continuing problems relating to the participation of English and French clubs. Officials for ERC have intimated that the tournaments will go ahead and expect to announce the draw the week after next.

The English clubs have already stated that they will not take any part but it is understood that high-level negotiations are taking place to reverse this decision.

The portents are not good for their participation this year as England's powerful clubs are demanding total autonomy over commercial rights to the tournaments including television money, gate receipts and sponsorship.

They are loathe to see the money go to the English RFU for distribution to all 24 clubs in the top two divisions in England. They want a system whereby only those clubs taking part should be rewarded. Several of the leading club owners in England have been in negotiation with French clubs to form an Anglo-French league. This weekend marks make or break negotiations for the French Rugby Union (FFR) who enter into discussion with the nine rebel clubs (Bourgoin, Toulouse, Narbonne, Stade Francais, Begles-Bordeaux, Brive, Pau, Perpignan, Narbonne) over a fixture schedule for next season.

The aforementioned clubs have threatened to break away and form the Anglo-French league unless a compromise can be reached. The English clubs are looking to dismantle the European Cup in its present format and build one of their own over which they would have total control.

Crucially though from an Irish perspective this would only include clubs in England, France and a token two from Wales (Swansea and Cardiff). There would be no room for the Irish or Scots. But ERC, backboned by the home unions, are determined to continue with or without the English clubs.

They have already agreed television rights with Sky and are adamant that they boast four potential sponsors for the tournament including the present ones, Heineken, whose contract expired at the end of last season.

Transfer deals involving leading southern hemisphere players will add a South Africa Test outhalf and an Australian three-quarter to next season's expanded English Premiership. A second Australian, arguably the world's greatest wing, is in line to join them.

Jannie de Beer, the Springbok goal-kicker, has agreed terms with newly promoted London Scottish, Richmond have signed the New South Wales centre Matt Dixon, and Leeds hope today to persuade Wendell Sailor, the Brisbane Broncos rugby league wing, to play the 15-man code during the Australian close season.