Heineken Cup
Rugby Champions Cup becoming a reality
ESPN Staff
October 20, 2013
Cardiff Blues shocked Toulon in the Heineken Cup on Saturday © Getty Images
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Talks are progressing over the future of European Rugby with reports suggesting the teams in the RaboDirect PRO12 are looking into joining the breakaway Rugby Champions Cup.

The Rugby Paper says the six Unions that make up the Heineken Cup - Italy, Scotland, Wales, England, Ireland and France - have met in London and a "peace deal is in the process of being hammered out".

The PRO12's four Unions have previously, publically, been in favour of staying in the Heineken Cup but now it seems their mindset is changing with the newspaper saying the most probable outcome is having all six Unions "reunited under the new Anglo-French banner, the Rugby Champions Cup."

European Rugby Cup Ltd - the body in charge of the Heineken Cup - has called a meeting of the relevant stakeholders for October 23 but the Anglo-French clubs are adamant they have no intention of attending the get-together in Dublin.

Instead, the Anglo-French clubs are planning to unveil the Rugby Champions Cup at a press conference either later this month or at the start of November.

"It's very clear - there will be the Rugby Champions' Cup next season or nothing," Ligue Nationale de Rugby chief Paul Goze told the Rugby Paper. "Some pretend they do not realise this.

"The Champions' Cup is the only competition. It will be organised with the British and anyone who wants to join us. There are a lot of official discussions and informal talks. We feel there is real interest in this competition."

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