International Rugby Board (IRB) chief executive Brett Gosper said on Wednesday he wanted the European Cup to remain a tournament for the continent’s leading clubs amid fears of an Anglo-French breakaway.
The tournament, as well as the second-string European Challenge Cup, faces an uncertain future now English and French clubs have given their notice to quit the existing competition structures at the end of the season amid a row over revenue distribution, qualification procedures and broadcast rights.
“Our clear position is we support a full European competition,” said Gosper at a news conference in London on Wednesday to mark two years to the start of the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England.
“Our desire is a bona fide European competition so we are urging all of the constituents of that conversation at the moment to get together and find a resolution because we obviously believe it is in the interests of rugby to have a strong European competition.
“It’s good for the clubs, it’s good for the (national) unions,” the Australian added in his first public comment on the row.
“Obviously, they are in a negotiation, hopefully they are in a negotiation, some say they are, some say they aren’t, but certainly we (the IRB) believe in a European competition and will support that outcome as much as we can.”
England World Cup-winning five-eighth Jonny Wilkinson backed the continuation of the European Cup, having achieved a career-ambition when lifting the trophy after kicking 11 points for Toulon in their 16-15 win against French rivals Clermont in the most recent final at Dublin’s Lansdowne Road in May.
“It would be an incredible shame if we weren’t able to compete in the Heineken (European) Cup which is, effectively, the World Cup for European clubs,” Wilkinson told Wednesday’s London Evening Standard.
“Having fought like mad while at Newcastle and twice managing to get into the Cup, and reaching a quarter-final in Paris and having a couple of goes here at Toulon, it makes you realise what an event it is for northern hemisphere rugby.
“Going to the quarter-final, semis and the final with Toulon reminded me so much of that World Cup experience where you have media in the week and stadium visits,” he added.
“It’s a fabulous thing and the more people who can experience it, the better.
“However, if there is unhappiness and unrest then it needs to be sorted out and long may the competition continue.”
