Unlike in 1601, and 1798, it looks like the French are coming to our aid.
Tomorrow, representatives from the French, Irish, Welsh, Scottish and Italian unions meet in Dublin to discuss their plans for next year's somewhat tweaked Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup. There is one notable interest group absent from the meeting tomorrow. The RFU and the English clubs look to be left out in the cold.
The Top 14 clubs look to have stepped back from their agreement with the English clubs to form a new tournament. The uncompromising stance of the head of the French Federation, Pierre Camou was crucial in bringing this about.
He warned that the French Federation would not co-operate with the Top 14 over player release and TV rights unless they withdrew their support for the English clubs' initiative. According to the Irish Times' Gerry Thornley, Camou began a meeting with the representatives of the Top 14 competition by saying that no new accord would be agreed:
until such time as the clubs cease talking about joining the Rugby Champions Cup – the breakaway tournament proposed by Premiership Rugby (PRL) – and resolve the future of European competitions. With that, Camou walked out of the room to leave Serge Blanco to chair the meeting.
He has also offered the French clubs €2 million each for participating in next year's Heineken Cup.
Camou is adamant that the game should remain under the control under both the IRB and the Unions rather than the brash new club owners in England and France.
