The Magners Celtic League has been thrown into disarray following confirmation that qualification for next season's Heineken European Cup has still not been sorted out.
And there is growing speculation that both of Scotland's teams will be guaranteed entry to the European Cup regardless where they finish in the Celtic League table.
At the moment, Edinburgh and Glasgow are bottom of the table after losing their opening games, but it would appear they will still qualify for the European Cup even if they stay there for the season.
It has emerged that it may be another month or more before the ERC decided on a qualification process through the Celtic League.
At the crux of the issue is that as part of the existing agreement Ireland and Wales have each been given three European Cup spots by the ERC with two places for Scotland, but with the demise of the Borders it was presumed Scotland would be given just one spot.
David Jordan, director of Celtic Rugby, has confirmed that they have not been informed by the ERC what qualification process is in place for next season.
"Obviously, we would be anxious to keep the Magners League competitive and having Heineken Cup qualification built in ensures several mini-leagues on the table during the campaign, said Jordan. "But at the moment we are waiting to be told by the ERC what the position is."
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the ERC said that they had been told by the Scottish Rugby Union that they were hoping to create a third team - possibly based in London - and the ERC are waiting for confirmation.
In the meantime, just two Scottish teams will be in this year's Celtic League, but it had not yet been decided by the ERC board of directors if both of them were going to be given automatic qualification.
The spokesperson added that it will probably be discussed in the next month or so.
Should the Scottish teams be guaranteed two slots, then Connacht's chances of reaching the European Cup for the first time - they are the only team in the Celtic League not to compete in it - would be greatly reduced.
Essentially, the season would boil down to Connacht trying to finish above one of the Irish sides or above one of the Welsh sides - most likely the Dragons - to force a play-off, while the Scottish sides would be guaranteed qualification regardless of how they performed.
One solution would be for the top eight in the league to qualify for the European Cup, but it would seem the three national bodies have little appetite for that.
Meanwhile, in England, the Rugby Football Union and Premier Rugby are one step away from finalising a new eight-year agreement covering all aspects of elite and professional rugby in the country.
The RFU's management board and the board of PRL, the umbrella organisation for the 12 Premiership clubs, have reached agreement on the details of a new framework.
The proposal was ratified yesterday by the RFU Council and now needs to be signed off by the clubs within the next seven days.
HowTheyStand (P W D L F A BP Pt )
Cardiff 3 3 0 0 89 44 2 14
Llanelli 3 1 0 2 53 65 1 5
Leinster 1 1 0 0 23 8 0 4
Connacht 1 1 0 0 22 7 0 4
Munster 1 1 0 0 26 16 0 4
Ulster 1 1 0 0 17 16 0 4
N-G Dragons 3 1 0 2 50 85 0 4
N-S Ospreys 3 0 0 3 40 48 3 3
Edinburgh 1 0 0 1 8 23 0 0
Glasgow 1 0 0 1 16 32 0 0
Weekend Fixtures
Tomorrow - N-G Dragons v Munster, Rodney Parade; Llanelli Scarlets v Connacht, Stradey Park; Cardiff Blues v Leinster, Arms Park; Edinburgh v Ulster, Murrayfield.
Sunday - N-S Ospreys v Glasgow Warriors, Liberty Stadium.
