English rugby stand-off continues

The endless round of off-field politicking and brinkmanship across the water regarding an oft-mooted British League - or more pertinently an English premiership including Cardiff and Swansea on an informal basis - continued apace yesterday, leaving European Cup organisers again unable to divulge the draw for this year's competition.

Indeed, so unresolved is the situation regarding the Welsh RFU's negotiations with Cardiff and Swansea that ERC Ltd are not even inclined to say when the draw will be released.

Like a dog with a bone, Cardiff especially, and to a lesser degree Swansea, are clinging to their own contractual negotiations with the English clubs to be included in their fixture list this season, albeit under the umbrella of `friendly' fixtures. Nor will they sign the vexed 10-year loyalty agreements to the WRU, further risking expulsion from the Welsh League.

Standing in their way is the WRU and the English RFU, who have consistently stated their objections to this cross-border League for "logistical reasons".

Nevertheless, the leading English clubs yesterday met the English RFU chairman, Brian Baister, with, ostensibly, just one item on the agenda, namely a fixture list for a season due to begin in 18 days' time. At stake though, is the very control of the English game, with the clubs scarcely even paying lip service to the much trumpeted and so-called Mayfair Agreement between them and the RFU.

Last night, the English RFU Management Board stood firm in its opposition to a cross-border competition for this season on the basis that it is "impractical for regulatory, logistical and contractual reasons." Nonetheless, the RFU stated its support for the possibility of a cross-border competition for next season.

However, they would not accommodate Cardiff and Swansea's inclusion even on a friendly basis this season. "Allied Dunbar Premiership weekends must be kept reserved for the 14 teams, which take part in the league, in the spirit of the Mayfair Agreement. We have asked the clubs once again for a fixture list and we expect to see this as a matter of urgency."

Unless the clubs now back down, this raises the spectre of an unsanctioned competition going ahead without RFU approval and, amongst other things, without RFU or indeed International Board referees, thereby tearing English rugby (and with it Welsh rugby) apart.

In the meantime, as this standoff continues, the Welsh WRU feel they cannot give European Cup organisers a definitive answer as to the make-up of the Welsh entry in this season's competition.

The draw has long since been made of course, leading to more leaks than the proverbial soup-strainer. Sifting through the most reliable of them, if believed, the draw doesn't seem to have been unduly kind to the three Irish participants in the main event, primarily Leinster.

The rumour mill has placed Leinster with two French clubs, the champions Stade Francais and another affluent and upwardly mobile club, Begles-Bordeaux, as well as Ebbw Vale of Wales.

Word has it that Munster have been paired with French runners-up Perpignan, Welsh third placed side Pontypridd and Italian surprise packets Padova.

Ulster, reputedly, have been draw with Toulouse, Cardiff (or perhaps Llanelli) and Edinburgh Reivers.

If all of this is true, then the relatively easiest group would seem to be Swansea (or Neath), Colomiers, Glasgow Caledonians and Benetton/Treviso.