The future of European rugby
Premiership clubs bring in lawyers over euro row
ESPN Staff
February 6, 2014
The future of the Heineken Cup is still shrouded in uncertainty © PA Photos
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Premiership Rugby (PRL) is seeking legal advice after the Heineken Cup organisers withheld tournament appearance payments.

European Rugby Cup Ltd - the body in charge of the European tournament - said on Wednesday evening it would not release any payments until the next meeting of the ERC in a fortnight.

This latest move appears to plunge the future of top-flight European club rugby into an even deeper limbo. The second instalment of five seasonal appearance payments is already overdue.

The Aviva Premiership clubs are owed £1.58m in this batch of Heineken Cup appearances fees, with Wales' four regions awaiting £663,000. Regional Rugby Wales is thought to have drawn an emergency bank loan after the ERC payment did not materialise.

PRL said: "We believe this inflames the issues we have in coming to a European solution and the next step is for Premiership Rugby to take advice to see if this action represents a fundamental breach in the contract between ERC and its clubs."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd

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