Dupuy and Attoub appeal - latest

[Bill W (2)]

Why should it matter if the RFU and French clubs are in dispute, surely the PRL clubs could decide to join with the French and Italien clubs in organising their own competition.

Technically they could.

However, last time there was a kerfuffle I recall that RFU are actually the named shareholders in ERC albeit they delegate their votes to PRL. RFU will wish to curry favour with the Celtic Nations even though the fact is that they (the Celtic Nations) need ERC far more than a European Competition needs them. Further, the French are not too enamoured with HHJJB who they believe is biased against them - and superficially they do seem to have a point.

Again, the last time this kerfuffle surfaced there was talk of PRL and the French establishing a "Eropean Union" but IRB would not tolerate that.

I am afraid the whole sorry mess is going to drag on for some time yet.

[1966]

If the ERC and RFU continue to prove themselves to be incompetent then they will surely force the clubs to act independently, which may lead to the creation of something akin to the premier league in football.