New European Rugby cup (or whatever it is called) - Qualification agreed

First topic message reminder :

I have heard it is:

6 French
6 English
7 Pro12 (1 guaranteed from each country, 3 on league position)
1 play-off (7th English and 7th French team)

Trying to find out is correct as we speak

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/club/10448246/French-hold-the-key-to-securing-a-deal-for-European-club-rugby.html

Interesting that McCafferty says most home unions including RFU are now in agreement on governance.

I've said a few times now that the real governance issue is the schism in France between FFR and LNR. Looks like I was right on that.

Guessing, I would imagine that the RFU, PRL, WRU, RRW and SRU (and LNR) are the ones who are on board, the FFR and IRFU are the holdouts and the FIR will get what they're given.

If the FFR come on board, it's hard to see the IRFU holding out for long on its own. For all the wonderfulness of Munster, Leinster and Ulster, I can't see viewers tuning in in their thousands to watch them play Zebre and Treviso.


Interesting bit at the end of the article about one of the big governance issues being how to accommodate the interests of non-6N unions (Russia given as the example) in the governance structure. But it can't be right, because that would mean the PRL were thinking about something other than their own narrow interests.

BigTrevsbigmac wrote:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/club/10448246/French-hold-the-key-to-securing-a-deal-for-European-club-rugby.html

Interesting that McCafferty says most home unions including RFU are now in agreement on governance.

He is telling porkies according to this:

McCafferty insists debate over European club rugby is finished; new competition will start in 2014

Mark McCafferty, chief executive of Premiership Rugby, which represents the 12 teams in England’s top rugby union league, today insisted that there is no longer a debate about whether a new European club rugby competition will be up and running next season, with only the exact number of participants left to be decided.

Premiership Rugby and the LNR, the French league, have been working on a new breakaway top-tier European competition, known as the Rugby Champions Cup, to come into effect in the 2014-15 season, having grown impatient with the qualifying and commercial conditions in place for the existing Heineken Cup, which they believe benefit disproportionately the participants from Wales, Scotland, Ireland and Italy.

The four Welsh rugby union regions - Cardiff Blues, Newport Gwent Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets – recently came out in support of the breakaway, and a representative of that group said today that they were willing to break from the Welsh Rugby Union if the governing body does not support the new competitions.

Talks are continuing to encourage teams from Ireland, Italy and Scotland, which along with Wales make up the existing Pro12 competition, to come on board, but a Rugby Champions Cup will kick off in 2014, regardless, McCafferty said.

Speaking at Rugby Expo in London today, McCafferty said: “It is sorted. Now it’s a question of which teams want to be a part of it. We have been in the implementation mode since September. Of course in parallel with that we will find ways to accommodate others’ needs. We have already made some concessions with the competition format but as far as the French, Welsh and English clubs are concerned, this is happening.

“With the English, French and Welsh clubs we have 30 of the 38 participants [already competing in European club rugby competitions] wanting to proceed on this new basis. It does not take much to tweak the competition format if needs be.”

Andrew Hore, Ospreys' chief executive, said: “There is no going back for us [the four Welsh regions]. We are committed to this.”

At a meeting in Dublin last month, European Rugby Cup, which organises the Heineken Cup and second-tier Amlin Challenge Cup, said that consensus had been reached among the stakeholders for a new structure for the two competitions from the start of the 2014-15 season.

Those proposals included a Heineken Cup of 20 teams, down from 24 at present, comprising six each from England’s Aviva Premiership and France’s Top 14 and seven from the Pro12 based on merit, but including at least one from each of those countries.

In the first year, the 20th place would be reserved for the winner of a play-off between the seventh-placed teams in the Premiership and the French Top 14 (McCafferty said today the scheduling of that play-off for May 2014 is already under discussion).


In the following years, the 20th qualifier would come through play-offs involving the seventh-place teams in the English and French leagues plus the two next non-qualified Pro12 teams.


It is envisaged that the second-tier competition would involve 20 teams, including the remaining 18 teams from the Premiership, Top 14 and Pro12 and two teams from a proposed new third-tier competition, aimed at boosting the sport in emerging countries.


As well as the format changes, it has been agreed that, in future, the revenues from the competitions will be split equally between the Premiership, LNR and the Pro12 but on the basis that the latter would not receive less than it does at present.


Premiership Rugby said it is pleased that progress was made at that Dublin meeting, which neither the league, the LNR nor the Welsh regions attended, but said that ERC would have no part to play in any future competition, with “governance” now the remaining key issue to be dealt with.


Dominic Hayes, commercial director of Premiership Rugby, told Sportcal today: “It was great that a couple of weeks ago in Dublin that meeting agreed the format that ourselves and the French cubs had put forward a year ago; two competitions of 20 teams.


“All that remains to be agreed is the principle of governance which is still up for discussion. But it’s important to understand these [new competition formats] were agreed under the context of a new European competition, not an existing one.”


Premiership Rugby’s position is empowered by a deal signed in September 2012 with UK telecoms giant BT, which has now launched new television sports channels, that purports to include domestic broadcast rights to matches involving English teams in European club competitions from 2014-15 onwards.


ERC immediately responded by announcing an extension of its rights deal with British Sky Broadcasting, the established pay-television operator.


Hayes continued: “Governance of Rugby Champions Cup cannot be under ERC. Their [TV] contract with Sky and ours with BT do not work together. Everyone is well aware that we were not part of ERC from 2014-15 onwards, that is no secret. We served notice on June 1 last year. Whatever ERC happened to be selling from 2014-15 onwards, it cannot have involved English clubs.”


McCafferty added: “Our clubs’ European games will be on BT Sport. It is as simple as that.”


McCafferty believes a solution is in sight but admitted that the final negotiations will be tough, noting: “We are at the stage where we could be close but it’s down to the last 10 per cent. But this 10 per cent of issues have 90-per-cent impact as far as most of the players in the debate are concerned.”


He said the Six Nations Council, the governing body for rugby union’s annual Six Nations Championship, had been approached about running the competition alongside the clubs, but that some of the members were not in favour of the proposal.


McCafferty added: “We need to agree a governance model with those unions that they, the leagues and the clubs find acceptable. A fourth proposal has gone on the table today. We feel like we have come up with solutions, but eventually you run out of road on that.


“It does not have to be everybody or nobody. We are pushing hard for a solution that involves everybody but we cannot force people into the competitions. If they don’t want to be in, they don’t want to be in. English, French and Welsh clubs will be.”

http://www.sportcal.com/news/

Poorfour wrote:


Interesting bit at the end of the article about one of the big governance issues being how to accommodate the interests of non-6N unions (Russia given as the example) in the governance structure. But it can't be right, because that would mean the PRL were thinking about something other than their own narrow interests.

The potential golden glory hole of stinkin' rich oiligarchs with money dripping from their oil skins as potential new owner occupiers of some English clubs in need of money?  And all that it needs is to get Russia more involved and start travelling out there with plans and proposals and sale offers????

All that wouldn't be in the PRL membership's best interest?  And that's just the keys to the potential (let's do it the football way!) future.  In the meantime, the potential audiences in Russia far outweight the couple of thousand that turn up for a Connacht or Dragons game

Helping Russia have a bigger role is not in PRL's best interest?

Originally Posted by Telnomadic on Gwlad quoting Midol

FFR/LNR meeting this weekend, .. Camou thumped the table, insisted on ERC competition.. no other option then left the meeting to VP Blanco ...
LNR reps surprised at the nature of position and extent of 'threat' .. some considering change of position and even the future of the LNR seems at risk. GIven the position of lapsed agreement FFR/LNR the LNR could be made redundant. Goze reported as maintaining his stance.

Meeting this week (thurs?) between ERC Unions and IRB EXCEPT the RFU who will not attend.

Sinister outlook :

-RFU/PRL seem fixed on their position and any ERC competition looks set to continue without them.

-LNR position weakening and could result in some or all french participation

-Explosive position between FFR/LNR !

Strange isnt it.

NO RFU,

I thought they were fully in-line with the other unions!

That was McCafferty saying that though - pince of salt required.

Does make a ERC tournament without England a lot more likely

mystiroakey wrote:Strange isnt it.

NO RFU,

I thought they were fully in-line with the other unions!

From what I have read the RFU have been clear from the outset that they sympathise with PRL clubs' concerns - so hardly fully in line with the other unions. I don't think that makes it a snub though, there's just no point them going and discussing the details if PRL are not going to rejoin ERC irrespective of the outcome.

mystiroakey wrote:Strange isnt it.

NO RFU,

I thought they were fully in-line with the other unions!

Not strange at all, mystir. I'm not surprised. It hasn't looked promising for a competition which includes PRL, and much less so now. Very disappointing really.

Strange how some people say a competition without Scots/Italian wouldnt be european but it's fine without the English. Just saying

mystiroakey wrote:Strange isnt it.

NO RFU,

I thought they were fully in-line with the other unions!

A French poster on munsterfans says the RFU are not invited to the meeting on Thursday. Camou and the other Executives want a competition without the English to punish the RFU for its betrayal.

From Jos on Munsterfans (newspaper translation)

Camou left the meeting and let Blanco to discuss with Goze and the LNR.His position is clear: the European cup will be played under the supervision of the ERC. The clubs will never have the power. After having offered money to clubs which will play in the H-Cup, he's now making threats. If the clubs don't engage with the ERC, he will not sign any agreement with the LNR for the top 14. Our law in France is simple: Unions manage the National Teams, the referees and all the amateur competitions. And the Leagues manages the professional competition. It's a delegation of power which is the subject of an agreement to sign for a limited time. The LNR has this power (given by the FFR) until the end of the year.So basically without a new agreement, the FFR could give the management of the Professional rugby to a new agency (very unlikely) or more likely to prevent the negotiations on the new TV rights. The clubs could lose a lot of money.Apparently the club would not be as united as before, and we learn there will be a meeting (thursday) between all the Unions except the RFU to discuss about the H-Cup. Camou and the other executive want a competition without the English teams to punish the RFU for its betrayal.

broadlandboy wrote:Strange how some people say a competition without Scots/Italian wouldnt be european but it's fine without the English. Just saying

And who is saying this, broadlandboy? just asking.

this looks bad for everyone. i dont think the LNR will break and rejoin the ERC. and neither will PRL. so then what do we have? french rugby civil war and a completely meaningless Rabo Cup mk2.

camou is a dinosaur and i think he has played his last card. doesnt sound like a bluff so i think its game over for european rugby for a while.

For a start the post above but also if you look back at the many threads on this subject many posters have said that a competition should be organised without PRL/English participation

broadlandboy wrote:Strange how some people say a competition without Scots/Italian wouldnt be european but it's fine without the English. Just saying

I suppose British people are still represented in the competition. I think it would have meant to end of Scottish & Italian rugby, but the English have a strong league and still have the LV Cup, not to mention the very lucrative BT TV deal so they will survive.

England will be greatly missed, but what can you do?

By your arguement Sin e as long as Ulster are playing the British would still be represented

broadlandboy wrote:By your arguement Sin e as long as Ulster are playing the British would still be represented

You have the Scottish & Welsh (and whatever Northerners consider themselves to be British as well as being Irish).

broadlandboy wrote:For a start the post above but also if you look back at the many threads on this subject many posters have said that a competition should be organised without PRL/English participation

What post above?  

I have been following these threads for some time now, and haven't read any comments confirming your accusation. What others have said is that if PRL don't get their way, and they then refuse to take part in the HEC, then the HEC will continue without them. That doesn't mean it's desirable, or that the HEC isn't lessened without them. It is, just as it it without any other of the unions involved. No rugby fan wants to see this, but it looks as though PRL might just exclude themselves...

Sin e's at 6.05 look at the last sentence in bold of the quote

broadlandboy wrote:By your arguement Sin e as long as Ulster are playing the British would still be represented

The thing is it doesn't even have to be Ulster. I've seen the likes of Harrington, Katie Taylor, Matthew Macklin, even BOD being claimed as "British".

broadlandboy wrote:Sin e's at 6.05 look at the last sentence in bold of the quote

Sin e simply posted a quote, broadlandboy, and where in that quote does it state that the HEC wouldn't be lessened without the presence of English clubs?

broadlandboy wrote:Sin e's at 6.05 look at the last sentence in bold of the quote

That is coming from the Camou (French FFR) and his colleagues from the other Unions involved, not me.

quinsforever wrote:this looks bad for everyone. i dont think the LNR will break and rejoin the ERC. and neither will PRL. so then what do we have? french rugby civil war and a completely meaningless Rabo Cup mk2.

camou is a dinosaur and i think he has played his last card. doesnt sound like a bluff so i think its game over for european rugby for a while.

They have already broken rank to side with ERC, quins. It's just a question of how many.

quinsforever wrote:this looks bad for everyone. i dont think the LNR will break and rejoin the ERC. and neither will PRL. so then what do we have? french rugby civil war and a completely meaningless Rabo Cup mk2.

camou is a dinosaur and i think he has played his last card. doesnt sound like a bluff so i think its game over for european rugby for a while.

Its on record that 4 clubs had broken ranks already and the post above suggest more may well do the same.

The French TV deal is up for grabs soon - mid December.
I suspect the cubs will be told keep in line and you have TV money from French TV otherwise you don't

With the extra financial carrot, as well, I suspect the French position alongside the English is collapsing.

broadlandboy wrote:Strange how some people say a competition without Scots/Italian wouldnt be european but it's fine without the English. Just saying

Straw man

geoff999rugby wrote:

quinsforever wrote:this looks bad for everyone. i dont think the LNR will break and rejoin the ERC. and neither will PRL. so then what do we have? french rugby civil war and a completely meaningless Rabo Cup mk2.

camou is a dinosaur and i think he has played his last card. doesnt sound like a bluff so i think its game over for european rugby for a while.

Its on record that 4 clubs had broken ranks already and the post above suggest more may well do the same.

The French TV deal is up for grabs soon - mid December.
I suspect the cubs will be told keep in line and you have TV money from French TV otherwise you don't

With the extra financial carrot, as well, I suspect the French position alongside the English is collapsing.

nothing is on record, apart from boudjellal having a tantrum.

i don't count gerry thornley and the irish times as "on record"

on that basis nothing is on record anywhere - not least the nature of the BT TV deal

Fact is their is clear blue water between France and England and it is widening

its called the Channel. not sure its widening.

Clear blue.... You may it sound like paradise . Its white with surf and brown with sewage mate.

Nobody saying its pretty but it is clearly visible and in rugby terms its widening

good job the french clubs are already on this side then! innit

Yes the gap in quality of rugby is certainly widening that is apparent ..

quinsforever wrote:good job the french clubs are already on this side then! innit

Read this - a fuller translation of the story

Camou left the meeting and let Blanco to discuss with Goze and the LNR.His position is clear: the European cup will be played under the supervision of the ERC. The clubs will never have the power.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After having offered money to clubs which will play in the H-Cup, he's now making threats. If the clubs don't engage with the ERC, he will not sign any agreement with the LNR for the top 14. Our law in France is simple: Unions manage the National Teams, the referees and all the amateur competitions. And the Leagues manages the professional competition. It's a delegation of power which is the subject of an agreement to sign for a limited time. The LNR has this power (given by the FFR) until the end of the year.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So basically without a new agreement, the FFR could give the management of the Professional rugby to a new agency (very unlikely) or more likely to prevent the negotiations on the new TV rights.The clubs could lose a lot of money.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Apparently the club would not be as united as before, and we learn there will be a meeting (thursday) between all the Unions except the RFU to discuss about the H-Cup. Camou and the other executive want a competition without the English teams to punish the RFU for its betrayal.

The RFU have shown a lot of common sense. I would be surprised not to see English teams in the ERC next season. It will be interesting to see the If the RFU eventually break the PRLs back over this...?

I notice the PRL are encouraging their clubs to renege on previously agreed release deals with Welsh players at their clubs.

geoff999rugby wrote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Apparently the club would not be as united as before, and we learn there will be a meeting (thursday) between all the Unions except the RFU to discuss about the H-Cup. Camou and the other executive want a competition without the English teams to punish the RFU for its betrayal.

The French clubs were never as aligned as we have been led by a number of posters to believe.

Serge Blanco was very publicly condemning Toulon and a few others in interview a few months ago. He disagrees with the disparity being created in French rugby, he is not alone.

maestegmafia wrote:The RFU have shown a lot of common sense. I would be surprised not to see English teams in the ERC next season. It will be interesting to see the If the RFU eventually break the PRLs back over this...?

I notice the PRL are encouraging their clubs to renege on previously agreed release deals with Welsh players at their clubs.

Aye, I read that elsewhere. PRL attempting to bully WRU into agreeing this supposed new cup. And these guys think we can trust them with European control? I think not

yet another meeting between unions without either rfu, prl or lnr represented. well that's going to accomplish a lot isnt it. sounds like the meeting that ERC arranged 14 months ago where they tried to drive a wedge between LNR and PRL by not inviting PRL.

the ball is in the court of the LNR now. i think they will stonewall him. there is no way Camou is going to be able to dissolve the french league. there will be employment issues, legal issues, political issues (i cant imagine the 200k who watch games live weekly and 2-3m who watch on tv every week are going to be particularly amused).

this is not over by a long shot. and i bet you the people pooping themselves right now are the celtic unions.

quinsforever wrote:yet another meeting between unions without either rfu, prl or lnr represented. well that's going to accomplish a lot isnt it. sounds like the meeting that ERC arranged 14 months ago where they tried to drive a wedge between LNR and PRL by not inviting PRL.

the ball is in the court of the LNR now. i think they will stonewall him. there is no way Camou is going to be able to dissolve the french league. there will be employment issues, legal issues, political issues (i cant imagine the 200k who watch games live weekly and 2-3m who watch on tv every week are going to be particularly amused).

this is not over by a long shot. and i bet you the people pooping themselves right now are the celtic unions.

quins, that's just making things up now. Legally binding contracts are there for a reason.

December 14 is close

Munchkin wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:The RFU have shown a lot of common sense. I would be surprised not to see English teams in the ERC next season. It will be interesting to see the If the RFU eventually break the PRLs back over this...?

I notice the PRL are encouraging their clubs to renege on previously agreed release deals with Welsh players at their clubs.

Aye, I read that elsewhere. PRL attempting to bully WRU into agreeing this supposed new cup. And these guys think we can trust them with European control? I think not

Or. more accurately, PRL supporting the IRB in their International Window strategy, which was collectively imposed upon the clubs by the Unions.

Dubbelyew L Overate wrote:

Munchkin wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:The RFU have shown a lot of common sense. I would be surprised not to see English teams in the ERC next season. It will be interesting to see the If the RFU eventually break the PRLs back over this...?

I notice the PRL are encouraging their clubs to renege on previously agreed release deals with Welsh players at their clubs.

Aye, I read that elsewhere. PRL attempting to bully WRU into agreeing this supposed new cup. And these guys think we can trust them with European control? I think not

Or. more accurately, PRL supporting the IRB in their International Window strategy, which was collectively imposed upon the clubs by the Unions.

Supporting it or abusing it for their own ends? From my understanding of it, the WRU had asked the RFU for player release from one of their clubs (Bath?), and that this was agreed by RFU until PRL blocked it citing exactly as you suppose above.

Munchkin wrote:

quinsforever wrote:yet another meeting between unions without either rfu, prl or lnr represented. well that's going to accomplish a lot isnt it. sounds like the meeting that ERC arranged 14 months ago where they tried to drive a wedge between LNR and PRL by not inviting PRL.

the ball is in the court of the LNR now. i think they will stonewall him. there is no way Camou is going to be able to dissolve the french league. there will be employment issues, legal issues, political issues (i cant imagine the 200k who watch games live weekly and 2-3m who watch on tv every week are going to be particularly amused).

this is not over by a long shot. and i bet you the people pooping themselves right now are the celtic unions.

quins, that's just making things up now. Legally binding contracts are there for a reason.

December 14 is close

this executive power that camou is threatening to wield dates back to a 1905 authorisation of FFR. It could be changed by president hollande in about 10 seconds.

what does that have to do with legally binding contracts, things which are usually used in transactions? ie in the professional sphere?

maybe i'm missing the point.

quinsforever wrote:

Munchkin wrote:

quinsforever wrote:yet another meeting between unions without either rfu, prl or lnr represented. well that's going to accomplish a lot isnt it. sounds like the meeting that ERC arranged 14 months ago where they tried to drive a wedge between LNR and PRL by not inviting PRL.

the ball is in the court of the LNR now. i think they will stonewall him. there is no way Camou is going to be able to dissolve the french league. there will be employment issues, legal issues, political issues (i cant imagine the 200k who watch games live weekly and 2-3m who watch on tv every week are going to be particularly amused).

this is not over by a long shot. and i bet you the people pooping themselves right now are the celtic unions.

quins, that's just making things up now. Legally binding contracts are there for a reason.

December 14 is close

this executive power that camou is threatening to wield dates back to a 1905 authorisation of FFR. It could be changed by president hollande in about 10 seconds.

what does that have to do with legally binding contracts, things which are usually used in transactions? ie in the professional sphere?

maybe i'm missing the point.

It wouldn't be like you to miss a point, quins  

The legally binding contracts (licence to run T14) are up Dec 14. They were actually up in June, but LNR asked for, and were granted, an extension in the hope of coming to an agreement on Europe before the end of year. Thus far, that hasn't happened, and once their licence expires so does any legal right they have to run T14. This was always a likely stumbling block, and one that McCafferty fully realises. Hence his acknowledgement that getting FFR on side was, and is key for his plans either succeeding or crashing. The latter seemingly the most obvious outcome at this point.

ok, so what do people think is going to happen if FFR don't extend the licence (or whatever is required) to LNR clubs to run their own professional league?

does all competition stop effective dec 14th, all players are released from contracts which are no longer valid, all clubs dissolved? do we imagine the top14 clubs will just take this lying down, or, as in most things in the arena of politics in france, will they protest loudly and publicly and make a nuisance of themselves to get what they want?

i dont know the answer to any of these questions, but this is not over by a long shot just because camou says it is.

aint no way camou is going to be able to simply dissolve the worlds largest and most successful (budgets/attendances/avg quality of players) league simply because he hasn't had his croissant to dip in his cafe au lait, and serge nicked his gitanes...

Munchkin wrote:

Dubbelyew L Overate wrote:

Munchkin wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:The RFU have shown a lot of common sense. I would be surprised not to see English teams in the ERC next season. It will be interesting to see the If the RFU eventually break the PRLs back over this...?

I notice the PRL are encouraging their clubs to renege on previously agreed release deals with Welsh players at their clubs.

Aye, I read that elsewhere. PRL attempting to bully WRU into agreeing this supposed new cup. And these guys think we can trust them with European control? I think not

Or. more accurately, PRL supporting the IRB in their International Window strategy, which was collectively imposed upon the clubs by the Unions.

Supporting it or abusing it for their own ends? From my understanding of it, the WRU had asked the RFU for player release from one of their clubs (Bath?), and that this was agreed by RFU until PRL blocked it citing exactly as you suppose above.

They abuse it for there own ends. The PRL constantly use it to prevent welsh players from playing international rugby. England are the only country who do this.

If the PRL force Saints to go back on the contract Saints made with North allowing him to play in all internationals I hope he takes them to court.

quinsforever wrote:ok, so what do people think is going to happen if FFR don't extend the licence (or whatever is required) to LNR clubs to run their own professional league?

does all competition stop effective dec 14th, all players are released from contracts which are no longer valid, all clubs dissolved? do we imagine the top14 clubs will just take this lying down, or, as in most things in the arena of politics in france, will they protest loudly and publicly and make a nuisance of themselves to get what they want?

i dont know the answer to any of these questions, but this is not over by a long shot just because camou says it is.

aint no way camou is going to be able to simply dissolve the worlds largest and most successful (budgets/attendances/avg quality of players) league simply because he hasn't had his croissant to dip in his cafe au lait, and serge nicked his gitanes...

Who said the T14 would be scrapped? That wouldn't make any sense on any level. The licence isn't for T14. That belongs to FFR. The licence is for a group to run it. The T14 will very much remain to function as a league next year. If Camou isn't for turning then the clubs will fall into line with ERC. Far to much at stake for them to refuse.

so who is the licence for?

quinsforever wrote:so who is the licence for?

The licence is a submission of FFR authority, and delegated to whatever group to run T14, such as LNR.

okay. but these are independent professional clubs, so i dont see how a new administrator can force them all to join the ERC? is it then more to do with the authority to negotiate TV rights as is hinted at?

quinsforever wrote:okay. but these are independent professional clubs, so i dont see how a new administrator can force them all to join the ERC? is it then more to do with the authority to negotiate TV rights as is hinted at?

Without FFR backing the LNR have no bargaining power. French law deems so.

quinsforever wrote:okay. but these are independent professional clubs, so i dont see how a new administrator can force them all to join the ERC? is it then more to do with the authority to negotiate TV rights as is hinted at?

I think much depends on what you mean by independent. Nobody can force the clubs to join ERC, but FFR can certainly refuse licence renewal/agree TV rights, and so on. As far as I know the LNR negotiates TV rights, etc, but that it is FFR which has the final say.
If you think back to the time the LNR had their votes scuppered by FFR in the ERC. The LNR has authority delegated to it, but that authority can only function within the framework of FFR. FFR have caveats in place to protect FFR if they believe their authority may be being undermined. They're not daft.