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Regions back Euro breakaway
The four Welsh regions have backed a breakaway European competition to replace the Heineken and Amlin cups, joining the English and French clubs who proposed the changes.
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Rugby regions back Anglo-French breakaway
The four Welsh rugby regions have given their full support to the formation of the Rugby Champions Cup, the proposed replacement of the premier European rugby competition the Heineken Cup.
The future of the European competitions has been cast into doubt after English and French clubs opted to breakaway from the ERC run Heineken and Amlin Cups in favour of a new format with what they believe are fairer distributions of prize money and qualification criteria.
One of the main areas of contention has been the how teams from the Welsh, Irish and Scottish Rabo Direct Pro 12 qualify for Europe given that the Pro 12 has no fear of relegation, unlike in the English Premiership and French Top 14.
'Advantages to new competitions' say rugby regions
All four Welsh rugby regions have given their support to a breakaway Anglo-French competition. Key to the debate surrounding the decision are European fixtures.
The English and French clubs believe Celtic sides an unfair advantage by being able to rest their first choice players ahead of European fixtures without fear of slipping out of their respective top divisions.
ERC, the organising body of the current European set-up are due to meet on Wednesday to discuss the situation, but the likelihood of finding common ground now appears highly unlikely given the Welsh sides' support for a breakaway.