crunchfit says...

Personally, I wouldn't mind too much if Premiership clubs no longer participated... There are only 3 teams from the league I enjoy watching. I also don't like that they are doing this now, after their period of dominance has ended. I find it slightly petty and generally underhanded. Perhaps they should try and sort out their ridiculous, idiotic and non-sensical domestic problems. It would be great to have them in the competition, but this is not how they should be going about it.

I wouldn't like the French teams to leave though.

Posted 13:56 12th June 2012

J_HDK says...

24 teams is awkward and unfair.

20 teams makes absolutely no sense for the same reason.

32 teams would mean only six teams going into the Amlin.... with the loads of amateur fodder. What would be the point?

16 teams, Top 5 from each competition plus the Champions with the top two qualifiers going into the QFs. Third and fourth in HCup pool go into 2nd round of Amllin

22 remaining in top leagues going into the challenge cup along with 10 others from English Championship, France D2, Italiy Super 10 along with the usual suspects .Top qualifiers from each group go into the 2nd round.

It really can't be that hard to figure this stuff out.

Posted 13:46 12th June 2012

startledwombat says...

In two decades' time, when rugby at international or ERC/Super level is available on your pay TV screen 52 weeks of the year, the proposal will be seen as a good move. On Pay TV terms currently the European calendar is both too crowded and too low in quality at its bottom end to support effective globalisation of the game.

By getting sniffy about it, England and France are self-selecting themselves as barriers to globalisation. I will watch with interest as the bluff is called and the funds go to other parts of the game that support a very high quality Heineken Cup. After all, that's the brand that has the recognition world-wide.

After waiting far too long - decades - for an opportunity in the Southern Hemisphere, who knows, maybe Argentina will now have an opportunity in the North.

Posted 12:58 12th June 2012

lawynd says...

Yes, because this obviously is to do with who is winning the tournament. Read the article, morons.

Posted 11:36 12th June 2012

kid_diablo says...

so if an irish team wins again the english are literally taking their ball and going home ?

Posted 10:49 12th June 2012

leinster_goy says...

waaaaaaaaa waaaaaaaaaa mummy we wanna leave it cos were not winning it anymore waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Posted 10:29 12th June 2012