Makes absolutely no sense seeing as the clubs they’re on about “getting an unfair advantage” have all finished up the top of the Pro12 for the past number of years. In fact the inclusion of Italian teams, if you look at it, has benefited English clubs more than anyone else in recent years, helping their clubs reach the knock-outs easier than everyone else. Me fears that this is 100% about money and 0% about rugby!!!

I think they need to look at how to improve their own system, strategies, and policies; rather than trying to get an advantage by blackmailing the smaller nations. I agree that jelousy has something to do with it also.

A Connacht supporter.

Of course it’s about money. The best of the English and French leagues have been present over the last 7 years and have for the most part come off second best compared to the Irish teams. How is adding some worse teams from those leagues going to affect their chances of winning it?

I wonder if the shoe was on the other foot, would such a threat be entertained at all. Its a bit rich coming from a body of French clubs who have often sent the bourgoins, castres and racing metros under 23 teams to fulfill fixtures without sanction.

Money and bitterness that the system in place in Ireland is more conducive to us winning the competition. Sour grapes

Just because the english and french clubs haven’t won the Heineken cup for so long and a so called smaller nation like Ireland cleaned up in europe the last few years these lot decide to play the big bullies who have thrown the toys out of the pram. So now it will be threats and bitching until they get there way. Well I can tell those english and french clubs as a connacht supporter, our province has had to fight tooth and nail not just to get where we are today in the henieken cup but to just still be in existence. So there is no easy rides for teams in the Pro12

There wasn’t a peep from them when English and French clubs won it 9 out of the first 10 years! Now that Irish provinces are seeing the virtues of strong academy and provincial structures they are going to take the ball and go home? Go nuts lads, let’s see if Sky will pay top dollar for an Anglo-French Cup

Moan, moan, moan! Munster and Leinster have been able to win this trophy because of excellent player/time management, a great system in place between province and country and an excellent squad rotation system. Yes key players are rested at important times but these teams keep winning and regularly finish in the top four anyway. I can understand to a certain degree people getting their noses out of joint because of Zebres just walking into the tournament but each country needs representation. The real issue here is that English/French clubs haven’t copped on to the idea of Provincial rugby yet, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Italy, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa all use a provincial or franchise system, if they want to challenge for top club honours, maybe they should start looking at their own methods rather than blaming everyone else!

So the big French teams with their massive budgets are struggling to win it. Hmmm and they say its not a level playing field? leinster munster dominate it on a fraction of their budgets!!!! level playing field…the hypocrites

For me this is the just the English and French being jelous because Irish teams are more talented than they are

I think ERC should call their bluff. Are they seriously going to destroy the most exciting tournament that has existed for years and one that has built up a huge fan base out of spite? The Heineken Cup also generates considerable revenues for the clubs in attendances and I’m sure they get some cut of the television rights as well. While it would damage the cup to lose both nations, the English tried this before in 1999 before coming back with the tails between their legs. I reckon a lot of the fans of the English and French clubs would be very unhappy with such a move.

The major problem they have is that they have no real alternative to offer in its place. Even if they tried to create some Anglo-French tournament it would never generate the same level of excitement or interest because the fixtures would be too repetitive. And as it is some of the French clubs barely take an interest in the HC so can you imagine what how interested they would be in some lesser alternative.

An absolute disgrace ! – They are just trying to prevent Leinster or Munster from winning it again – Its sickening, The english and french always laugh at the celtic league because they believe its not as good as their own leagues – but when the heineken cup comes around we prove again and again thats its just as good ! … English and French resorting to dirty tactics once again – ughhh i feel like puking !

Well said tom- totally agree with what you said. Utter nonsense! I hope ulster and connacht win it in the next few years and really annoy them- that’s from a Leinster lady who goes to all matches!

I’ve got to say I quite like the idea of a merit based entry from the pro 12 and think it would improve the competition there. Especially in the middle of the table nearing the end of the season where the non-superstars could fight it out for qualification. I think losing England or France would be disastrous but also the Heineken cup would be a lesser competition if it didn’t travel to all (Italy included) involved countries. As 6 team from each competition as suggested above is rubbish I’d propose something like this.
Five from France.
Five from England.
Seven from the Rabo (the top team from each nation plus the next highest positioned three)
The previous winner
The top two from the Amlin.
I think this could also improve the Amlin with four more decent teams.

I say call their bluff. Any English fans I’ve spoken 2 do not want to pull out…

They may not b winning it, but they love the rugby and playing teams they don’t normally.

For me seeing a poor Munster team put 50 on saints and Connacht disposing of their best team speaks volumes…

get your own house in order prl…then we’ll talk…

So in return for this, are the English and French Football associations going to give up Champions league slots in favour of league of Ireland or spl teams?

Same situation, different sport and you can bet they would throw the toys out of the pram if they lost 2 CL spots

Great – cancel it altogether , rubbish sport ..

Is there not enough clubs with the welsh Italian Scottish and Irish sides there let them go there no challenge any more any way

I can understand why the english team would be worried because the standard of thier league is very low, but I cannot understand why french feel the need to complain aouut the current euorpean situation. As a Leinster fan I ‘d be the first to admit that leinster were lucky to win thier semi final against Clermont Auvergne, and it certainly wasn’t a lack of rest that made Clermont lose that game, even coming into the new Cup season I would not like to bet all my money on Leinster retaining their title if they came up against French opposition in the business end of the tournament,
But I do agree that it is down to the strenght and depth of Leinster and Munster teams is the reason for the success in Europe, and that the Aviva Premiership and top 14 need to get their houses in order because I think if they get their demands that nothing is going to change