Dawson voices concern over future of cup

Leinster CEO Mick Dawson has voiced the concerns of all Irish provinces regarding the withdrawal of French clubs from the Heineken European Cup next season.

An ERC shareholders meeting on February 6th may lead to the French reversing their stance, or the situation could spiral out of control if English clubs were to follow suit and opt out of the Northern Hemisphere's premier competition.

A document that will update, and renew, the Paris Accord of 1999, the agreement that binds each country to the competition, will be circulated at the forthcoming ERC meeting.

"Leinster, and Irish rugby generally, is in a decent position so from our point of view it wouldn't be good at this stage," said Dawson yesterday.

"Our focus remains the Gloucester match and the rest of this season's competition. A lot of negotiations must still take place so it may yet be resolved. We have done no homework yet on the financial side of things."

It's believed the competition could survive for one season without the French clubs, like it did without the English clubs during the 1998/'99 season when Ulster beat Colomiers in the Lansdowne Road final.

When asked about the potential fallout if English clubs follow the French lead by boycotting the tournament next season, Dawson said: "Without both countries, the competition would be seriously devalued."

The loss to IRFU revenue would enter seven-figure sums. The union gets a percentage of ERC profits, and a performance-based payment, which it divides up among the provinces.

IRFU income for the 2005/'06 season from representative matches was €39.4 million, which contributed to the first annual surplus (€816,015) in five years. Other potential revenue decreases from a "devalued" European Cup could be felt in sponsorship and merchandising income.

Heineken Ireland spokesman Pat Maher was not willing to be drawn on the issue. "It's outside our control . . . but we have always fully supported the ERC endeavours to bring an amicable conclusion to the situation."