Five European rugby federations rounded against the English on Thursday by insisting their clubs would take part in the European Cup next season.

In September, English and French clubs announced the establishment of the Rugby Champions Cup from next season, a rival to the European Club Rugby (ERC)-run competition.

Welsh regions subsequently joined forces with English and French counterparts, claiming they wished to be a part of the breakaway competition.

But the federations of France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales threw a spanner in the works by releasing a joint statement claiming their teams – without specifying which ones – would stay loyal to the European Cup in its current format.

“A European club competition is to take place during the 2014/2015 season following an optimised sporting and economic format with 20 teams, no matter how many countries are involved.

“The competition will be driven by the existing organisation (currently named ERC) which will remain in charge of the centralised sale and management of all commercial rights, amongst other things.

“Discussions over governance will be pursued in order to optimise the internal functioning of the existing organisation (ERC).

“The common aim is to move eventually towards the integration of European competitions within an all-encompassing European rugby framework.”

ERC had responded to the breakaway plans by acquiescing to certain Anglo-French demands by reducing participation in their premier competition from 24 to 20 clubs, but that did not appease the rebel teams who insisted they had moved on and were no longer interested in playing in the European Cup regardless.

Even so, the ERC has not given up hope and has the backing of five unions, if not the English one.

“All five unions believe that it is critical to the interests of the game in Europe that the unions are at the heart of the governance of cross-border club competitions, given that rugby in each country is organised in a pyramidical structure,” continued the statement.

“Clubs, provinces and regional organisations form an integral part of the development of the game throughout this structure, from grassroots to the international game.”

Although the French and Welsh unions were signatories to the statement, there has been no reaction so far from the French clubs and Welsh regions, the ones who previously claimed they would be part of the breakaway competition rather than ERC’s European Cup.