KEY POINTS:
LONDON - The future of the Heineken Cup, Europe's top club rugby tournament, seemed secure on Monday (NZ time) after organisers announced that they had come to an agreement with disgruntled French and England clubs.
French clubs said last month they would be boycotting the event next season for strategic and financial reasons and were joined later by the English.
But on Monday, European Rugby Cup (ERC) chairman Jean-Pierre Lux confirmed that the leading English and French clubs would take part next season in the Heineken Cup and European Challenge Cup, alongside teams from Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales.
Lux said in a statement: "I would like to thank all of ERC's stakeholders who have been involved in the discussions and I am delighted to be able to confirm the future of both tournaments on the day of the 12th Heineken Cup final.
"ERC's stakeholders will meet shortly to finalise the agreement that will secure the long term future of both tournaments."
The announcement came just 40 minutes before the kickoff of this season's final between English clubs Leicester and Wasps at Twickenham and seemed to bring to an end the latest in a long line of internal disputes that have accompanied the sport since it went professional 12 years ago.
The Heineken Cup dispute was based on frustration at the Rugby Football Union's (RFU) controlling stake in the English aspect of the tournament, despite having no direct involvement.
French concerns over fixture congestion in World Cup year added weight to their call for a another boycott - English sides stayed out in its early years - and the RFU said at one stage it would enter second division teams if it had to.
However, a series of talks involving the RFU and Premier Rugby, the clubs' representative body, eased tension.
A meeting was scheduled for Wednesday (NZ time) to finalise details of the latest agreement, though neither the RFU nor Premier Rugby has yet responded to the ERC announcement.
- REUTERS
