The Heineken European Cup yesterday finally imploded following disputes over money and power. The heady days of massive support for Leinster, Munster and Ulster in the competition now look certain to end.
Following a vote by top French clubs and support from English clubs, the two biggest European rugby nations have decided to boycott the tournament next season. The decision will effectively bring an end to the European Cup as Irish fans have known it over the past 13 years.
The European Rugby Cup (ERC), which organises the tournament, may lose contracts with television and sponsors over the next four years worth up to €150 million.
Last year's semi-final between Leinster and Munster in Dublin drew a full house of 49,000 people to Lansdowne Road. Munster's Red Army were famous throughout Europe for following their team, often to the most remote parts of France and Italy.
Almost 40,000 travelled to Cardiff last season to watch Munster win the trophy for the first time. Ulster also won it in 1999.
But yesterday's decision by the French and English championship sides is certain to break up the competition unless the main stakeholders can retrieve something in the coming months. That, however, seems remote as Serge Blanco, the former legendary French fullback and president of the Ligue Nationale de Rugby, said after the French clubs voted 14-3 to boycott that "the decision was non-reversible".
The news is not just an enormous disappointment and financial blow to Irish clubs but also to those in Scotland, Wales and Italy, who rely on Heineken Cup competition to improve their rugby standards and look to the gate and television revenues generated by the growing popularity of the competition to fund the development of the game.
"There are a number of misguided individuals who do not understand the linkage between amateur and professional rugby and the links between the various rugby unions," said IRFU chief executive Philip Browne.
"They do not seem to understand the synergies and this decision strikes at the very heart of the way rugby is organised. They are looking at the soccer model, which has been around for a hundred years. It is very, very disappointing and one would hope that it is still possible to bring things back."
Blanco said there was no desire among the French to establish an alternative tournament but the English clubs have spoken about their willingness to organise their own European matches.
