Heineken Cup
O'Connell wants agreement over Heineken Cup future
ESPN Staff
September 17, 2013
Munster captain Paul O'Connell with the Heineken Cup trophy, Munster v Toulouse, Heineken Cup Final, Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, May 24, 2008
Paul O'Connell celebrates with the Heineken Cup © Getty Images
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Munster second-row Paul O'Connell hopes an agreement can be found to preserve the Heineken Cup.

The future of Europe's premier tournament is shrouded in doubt with clubs both in the Aviva Premiership and the Top 14 keen to push ahead with plans to create a breakaway tournament for the 2014-15 season. Both Premiership Rugby and Ligue Nationale de Rugby hold misgivings over certain aspects of the Heineken Cup, a tournament run by European Rugby Cup Ltd (ERC), and seem to be adamant they will leave the competition at the end of the season.

The RaboDirect PRO12 clubs are yet to declare their hands over the matter, but Leinster have since said they would be keen to link-up with the Anglo-French clubs if no compromise was found over the future of the Heineken Cup.

But the Anglo-French stance has angered the Irish Rugby Football Union with its CEO Philip Browne saying last week PRL's tactics were "deplorable". For O'Connell, a man who has won two Heineken Cups with Munster, he hopes some common ground is found for the good of the competition and European rugby.

"I don't know whether it's a serious threat by the English and French clubs or a negotiating tactic but it's a fantastic tournament and one that is very important to the Irish provinces," O'Connell told the 2fm Game On show. "From a financial point of view it's a very important competition and it's also one that is very important for people's interest in the game here. I hope an agreement can be made."

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