An ERC-led consultation process to review the Shareholder Agreement which provides for the structure and format of the Heineken Cup and the Amlin Challenge Cup will be under way before the start of the 2012/13 European club rugby season.
During the summer, ERC Chairman, Jean-Pierre Lux, and Chief Executive, Derek McGrath, will make the necessary contacts in preparation for a series of meetings with representatives of all stakeholders from the six participant countries which will begin in September.
This consultation process is a natural progression following applications from the Fédération Francaise de Rugby, the Ligue Nationale de Rugby and Premiership Rugby for a renegotiation of the ERC Shareholder Agreement.
The current agreement, which was signed by all stakeholders in 2007, includes a provision for parties to seek a renegotiation, while the structure and format of both the Heineken Cup and the Amlin Challenge Cup remain in place for a further two years until the end of the 2013/14 season.
The stakeholders are made up of the following union and club bodies which have representation on the ERC Board: the Rugby Football Union, Premiership Rugby, the Fédération Française de Rugby, the Ligue Nationale de Rugby, the Irish Rugby Football Union, the Federazione Italiana Rugby, the Scottish Rugby Union, the Welsh Rugby Union and Regional Rugby Wales.
Notes
ERC Board of Directors
Independent Chairman: Jean-Pierre Lux
England: Rob Andrew (RFU), Peter Wheeler (Premiership Rugby)
France: Michel Palmié (FFR), René Bouscatel (LNR)
Ireland: Philip Browne (IRFU), Peter Boyle (IRFU)
Italy: Fabrizio Gaetaniello (FIR), Orazio Arancio (FIR)
Scotland: Ian McLauchlan (SRU), Mark Dodson (SRU)
Wales: Roger Lewis (WRU), Stuart Gallacher (RRW)
Forty four clubs from eight countries participate in the Heineken Cup and the Amlin Challenge Cup annually.
ERC revenues broke through the €50m barrier for the first time in 2010/11. Revenues have doubled since the 2005/06 season.
Over 1.5m European club rugby fans attended Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup matches in 2011/12.
2012/13 will be the 18th season of the Heineken Cup.
