Heineken Cup
European clubs to return to the meeting table
ESPN Staff
October 30, 2012
The Heineken Cup on the turf of the Millennium Stadium, venue for the 2011 final, Leinster v Northampton, Heineken Cup, Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, May 20, 2011
Europe's clubs will meet in Dublin on Tuesday to discuss the Heineken Cup's future © PA Photos
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Europe's clubs will return to Dublin on Tuesday in a bid to break the deadlock that has hit the talks regarding the reform of the Heineken and Amlin Challenge Cups.

The English clubs have grown frustrated at what they perceive as a lack of progress towards change in European rugby following meetings in Dublin and Rome already this season. Last week the RaboDirect PRO12 teams met with the French Top 14 sides in Paris, but the French sides rejected two proposals for change. Premiership Rugby wants a solution to be found as soon as possible, preferably by the end of the year.

The English and French clubs have demanded a scaled down tournament of 20 teams with equal qualifying of six places for the English Premiership, Top 14 and RaboDirect PRO12 plus the winners of the previous season's Heineken and Amlin Challenge Cups. However, the PRO12 clubs have staunchly rejected any proposals which reduces the number of their teams that can qualify.

Currently there are 17 stakeholders involved in the discussions and all of them will be involved in the talks in Dublin. The RFU and Six Nations chairman Bill Beaumont has already offered to help end the impasse, though the Rugby Football Union is known to be sympathetic to the English club's argument.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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