Tribute to Nelson Mandela
As a mark of respect to the late Nelson Mandela and following the tribute by the IRB on behalf of the rugby family, ERC is requesting that all clubs playing in this weekend’s Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup Round 3 matches observe a minute’s silence prior to kick-off.
Jewel in Europe’s club crown takes centre stage
The Heineken Cup takes centre stage once again with bumper crowds set to attend the vital back-to-back Round 3 and 4 fixtures which will have a major say in deciding which of the top clubs qualify for the knockout stage of Europe’s premier club rugby competition and give themselves a chance of reaching the 19th tournament final in Cardiff next May.
With Round 3 of the Amlin Challenge Cup already underway, over 400,000 fans will flock to the games in both tournaments over the next 10 days with fixtures spread over eight countries (England, France, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Romania, Scotland and Wales). In addition to extensive live radio coverage, 28 matches will be shown live on TV with the Heineken Cup broadcast in close to 150 territories worldwide.
The back-to-back fixtures which were introduced in 1999/2000 have developed into a focal point of the European season, and the top two clubs in three of the Heineken Cup pools will go head-to-head with the schedule also featuring four first-time tournament meetings: Exeter Chiefs v Toulon, Leicester Tigers v Montpellier, Racing Metro 92 v Harlequins and Zebre v Saracens.
Writing in this weekend’s match programmes, ERC independent Chairman, Jean-Pierre Lux, said: “While issues remain over the formulation of a new European club rugby Accord for the 2014/15 season and beyond, significant progress has been made, and change has been embraced.
“Consensus was reached regarding the future format of the competitions, qualification and the distribution of revenues at a mediated meeting in October, and more recently, it was agreed by five Unions (France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales) that a European club competition run by the current organisers, ERC, would take place next season. Following this agreement, the opportunity exists to build even stronger tournaments and to copperfasten the future of European club rugby.”
Lux added: “ERC includes union and club body representatives on its Board and throughout its decision-making structures, and those club representatives have a very strong voice when it comes to driving European club rugby forward in the interests of all stakeholders and the game of rugby.
“In fact, on decisions regarding the commercial strategy for ERC and its tournaments, the bodies representing the English, French and Welsh clubs have 10 out of 18 Board votes, and also have a leading role through the chairmanship of our Commercial sub-committee.
“ERC stands on its record of generating exceptional revenues for the professional game: more than €520 million (euro) distributed since 1996, and last season’s turnover of €51.7 million (euro) was double the figure from the 2005/06 season.
“While we now know that European club rugby will continue next season with clubs from at least five countries, the family of Unions believes that for the continued success of the tournaments, all six nations at the heart of European rugby (England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales) should be involved in a final agreed solution.”
The Heineken Cup kicks off again this evening with the Pool 2 clash of Cardiff Blues and Glasgow Warriors at the Cardiff Arms Park while French champions, Castres Olympique, host Ospreys at Stade Pierre Antoine in Pool 1. Meanwhile, in the Amlin Challenge Cup, Newport Gwent Dragons take on Bordeaux-Begles at Rodney Parade, and Bayonne are at home against Rugby Viadana of Italy.
