Rugby: Clubs demand $27m reparation for season delay

By Hugh Godwin

Independent·

13 Apr, 2014 04:15 PM3 mins to read

England's Premiership rugby clubs, emboldened by the "historic" agreement that has given them a central role in running next season's new European competitions, are set for three more battles with rugby's governing bodies.

The clubs are demanding 14 million ($27 million) from the Rugby Football Union as compensation for the disruption caused by next year's World Cup in England and Wales.

And the clubs, having paid tribute to the RFU's chief executive Ian Ritchie for smoothing the new European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) accord, are set to test the resolve of the world governing body, the International Rugby Board (IRB), with plans to create a World Club Cup in June 2018.

The month-long tournament, which has been discussed with broadcasters Sky in the UK and Supersport in South Africa, would see the eight quarter-finalists from the European Champions Cup meeting eight southern-hemisphere teams from what by then will be the Super 16.

A key aspect of the European accord that will see a 20-team Champions Cup replace the Heineken Cup next season is that the national unions have nine seats on the 18-strong EPCR board.

It preserves the IRB's treasured Regulation 13 that says unions must sanction cross-border competitions and is a compromise from the clubs' threat at one time to go it alone, but hugely preferable in the clubs' eyes to the union-dominated, Dublin-based European Rugby Cup Ltd (ERC).

But the IRB, whose World Cup for national teams provides the bulk of their operating revenue, may view a World Club Cup dimly as a rival interest.

Unlike many other leading countries, England's players are contracted to the clubs and released for international matches under a Heads of Agreement between the RFU and Premiership Rugby that expires in 2016 and is currently being renegotiated.

With next year's World Cup being played in September and October, the 2015-2016 club season will start two months later than normal in November.

The Premiership clubs insist there is no danger of them withholding England players from taking part but the RFU has so far refused to meet the 14 million demand, which a club source said is "a figure that's been scientifically worked out" as commensurate with them not playing competitions between May and November.

Another effect of the need to squeeze 33 rounds of the Aviva Premiership and European Champions Cup into a shortened 2015-16 season is a threat to England's tour to Australia in June 2016 - "a massive problem", according to one club source, and an echo of this year's shambles of England facing the world champions New Zealand in Auckland on June 7 without the players from the previous week's Aviva Premiership final.

"We want all outstanding matters including the World Cup compensation and the new Heads of Agreement for post-2016 to be done by the end of this year," said Bruce Craig, the Bath chairman and passionate driving force behind the new Europe.