ERC Stakeholders Hold ‘Productive’ Meeting

Representatives of the ERC stakeholders met in Dublin today to begin the formulation of a new Accord which provides for the structure and format of European club rugby tournaments for the 2014/15 season and beyond.

The meeting included productive discussions regarding the future of the club game in Europe with a general resolve among all stakeholders to reach agreement towards a new Accord.

It was decided that all parties would continue the consultative process at a meeting in Rome on October 8, 2012.

With the objective of creating an opportunity for a positive outcome for European club competitions, it was agreed that there would be limited comment from stakeholders at this time.

The current Accord, which was agreed by all stakeholders in 2007, includes a provision for parties to confirm their intention to seek a renegotiation while the structure and format of both tournaments remain in place for a further two years until the end of the 2013/14 season.

ERC received formal applications on June 1 this year from the Federation Francaise de Rugby, the Ligue Nationale de Rugby and Premiership Rugby for such a renegotiation.

ERC Stakeholder Meeting Attendees:

Jean-Pierre Lux (ERC Chairman), Derek McGrath (ERC Chief Executive), Rob Andrew (RFU), Mark McCafferty (Premiership Rugby), Bruce Craig (Premiership Rugby), Michel Palmié (FFR), Olivier Keraudren (FFR), Patrick Wolff (LNR), René Bouscatel (LNR), Philip Browne (IRFU), Peter Boyle (IRFU), Fabrizio Gaetaniello (FIR), Orazio Arancio (FIR), Mark Dodson (SR), Ian McLauchlan (SR), Steve Phillips (WRU), Stuart Gallacher (RRW).

• 44 teams from eight countries participate in the Heineken Cup and the Amlin Challenge Cup annually

• ERC’s turnover has doubled since the 2005/06 season with revenues reaching 51.7 million euro for the 2011/12 season

• ERC revenues include broadcast, sponsorship and match revenue for the Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup finals, and for the Heineken Cup semi-finals

• ERC was established in 1995 to organise and to run European club rugby tournaments