THE FUTURE OF THE HEINEKEN CUP
Remember that you got to fight for what you want - You Gotta Fight
Lawerence Dallaglio said it best when he stated that the Heineken Cup is vital in World Cup build up. The Heineken is the highest standard of rugby most players will play before they enter in to any international competition. Playing against some of the best teams and players not only in the Northern hemisphere but in the world allows coaches and teams to see where they are standard wise and what they need to do in order to improve. Getting rid of the Heineken Cup could possibly decrease the standard of Northern hemisphere rugby which would not be beneficial to anyone. 
Having watched the majority of the new season of the Rabo Direct Pro 12 it is very evident that the standard of rugby being played by the majority of teams is just not good enough. With balls being knocked on, turned over and kicked over the dead ball line time and time again something needs to be done to improve the quality of play rather than to continue to diminish it. If teams such as the Scarlets and Ulster don't get a chance at playing some of the best sides in the world then the rugby they play will have very little chance to improve and with crowd numbers dwindling in the Pro 12, this is not a great situation for them to be in.
The English Premiership and the French Ligue Nationale want to quit the European competition when their existing tournament agreement ends next summer and both countries want to create an Anglo-French competition which will see the numbers of teams involved change along with the qualifying process and how the distribution of money works. The English and the French have a very valid point when they complain about the Pro 12 qualification process. In the Aviva Premiership teams must qualify in the top 6 in order to go through to Europe but teams have automatic qualifications in the Pro 12 which does not seem fair at all. Even Cardiff Blues and Wales captain, Sam Warburton, is calling for tougher qualifications in the Pro 12 stating that only the top 6 at the end of the season should qualify regardless of nationality. Tougher Heineken Cup regulations might be what is needed not the destruction of the European competition.
Despite the IRB stating that they are against any disruption to the European game, many clubs including the Saracens have stated that they will leave anyway which does not bode well for the ERC nor the IRB when the time comes to discuss contracts next summer.
Premiership rugby have announced that they have been looking into a competition that is not restricted to Europe, they have already received some informal interest from clubs as far as South Africa. A more international club competition would be great to improve the quality of numerous sides in Europe with them being able to play some Southern Hemisphere teams as well as their usual European counterparts. It all sounds very good but without the backing of the IRB or the ERC the RFU will not be able to do much at all.
There is no doubting that something has to be done to the current European system. Qualification for the Pro 12 sides is too easy compared to the other leagues involved in the competition and the distribution of money from the ERC to the clubs is increasingly becoming unfair but is destroying the Heineken Cup the answer? Is the possible Anglo-French coalition going to work even if they ever get approval by the International Rugby Board? Wouldn't it be best if the current system was to be revised and improved? We will have to wait and see what will come of the Heineken Cup but one thing is for sure - if the European competition is destroyed then the standard of Northern hemisphere rugby will surely plummet dramatically and that is the last thing the rugby world wants or needs.
Having watched the majority of the new season of the Rabo Direct Pro 12 it is very evident that the standard of rugby being played by the majority of teams is just not good enough. With balls being knocked on, turned over and kicked over the dead ball line time and time again something needs to be done to improve the quality of play rather than to continue to diminish it. If teams such as the Scarlets and Ulster don't get a chance at playing some of the best sides in the world then the rugby they play will have very little chance to improve and with crowd numbers dwindling in the Pro 12, this is not a great situation for them to be in. The English Premiership and the French Ligue Nationale want to quit the European competition when their existing tournament agreement ends next summer and both countries want to create an Anglo-French competition which will see the numbers of teams involved change along with the qualifying process and how the distribution of money works. The English and the French have a very valid point when they complain about the Pro 12 qualification process. In the Aviva Premiership teams must qualify in the top 6 in order to go through to Europe but teams have automatic qualifications in the Pro 12 which does not seem fair at all. Even Cardiff Blues and Wales captain, Sam Warburton, is calling for tougher qualifications in the Pro 12 stating that only the top 6 at the end of the season should qualify regardless of nationality. Tougher Heineken Cup regulations might be what is needed not the destruction of the European competition.
Premiership rugby have announced that they have been looking into a competition that is not restricted to Europe, they have already received some informal interest from clubs as far as South Africa. A more international club competition would be great to improve the quality of numerous sides in Europe with them being able to play some Southern Hemisphere teams as well as their usual European counterparts. It all sounds very good but without the backing of the IRB or the ERC the RFU will not be able to do much at all.
There is no doubting that something has to be done to the current European system. Qualification for the Pro 12 sides is too easy compared to the other leagues involved in the competition and the distribution of money from the ERC to the clubs is increasingly becoming unfair but is destroying the Heineken Cup the answer? Is the possible Anglo-French coalition going to work even if they ever get approval by the International Rugby Board? Wouldn't it be best if the current system was to be revised and improved? We will have to wait and see what will come of the Heineken Cup but one thing is for sure - if the European competition is destroyed then the standard of Northern hemisphere rugby will surely plummet dramatically and that is the last thing the rugby world wants or needs.
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