It's a big pie and everyone wants a bigger share of it.

Opening moves in a long chess game which will end with a last minute compromise for everyone to put a positive spin on.

Typical sports politics these days.

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Ulster got to the SF the year before, so 1.8M isn't bad for one extra game.

Would be a massive shame to lose this comp, all the home nations are benefiting, the national teams seem to have more strength in depth.

As you say its probably just polotic's and fighing over the money available, much like the English/French 6 nations issue, they are just trying to get the best they can.

I never thought the 6 nations was ever in real danger and feel the same way about the Heineken cup, hopefully!

Hey Cobnob, how things,

that 1.8 i talk about is a very broad figure and is not taking into account the other 2 provinces involved in the HC this year, and certainly not saying that Ulster banked it. Thats the over all profits of the IRFU not the provinces in singular terms and so after the best possible success of having two of the provinces in the final and 4 in total in the Cup 1.8 is a tiny sum.

Specially if we try to take a look at the massive figures being generated by the ERC i tend to fall on the side of the English and French clubs, and have to agree with their stance that more should be earned from the HC competition and spread across the competing clubs or Unions whatever the case may be.

Its a massively lucrative competition and it seems the Clubs/Provinces are being a little bit scr€ wed over. As when they publish figures similar to the figures published by the IRFU inevitable questions pop up like "where the hell is the rest of the cash" If its not in ireland or england or france etc etc where the hell is it gone?

if its not in ireland or england or france etc etc where the hell is it gone?

Not Wales, trust me on this

Hi there

I believe Englisg clubs are able to withdraw from this season and French clubs from next season. I don't knwo what the French angle is, though I'd guess its the same as for English clubs, and thats less who gets the money, but more, when are the games played.

The salary cap for English clubs and large number of games to be played makes it difficult to fit the Heineken Cup in - interesting to note how the number of English winners has fallen off recently as case in point - as a result there's a question over participation in the Heineken Cup versus domestic competitions

Sars is the prize money for the league loads more?

It would be sad to see this vanish, I think it has helped make NH rugby better. Maybe more teams from Italy or somewhere can be added if one drops out but if France and England drop out its effectively over really.

Cobnob,

I would go one further. I believe if any country drops out it is effectively over. Well by any i mean the competitive countries.

SARS, I dont agree with you about the English winners being less. In fact i dont count the winners, i only count the teams that make it to the final. The winner at this stage is largely a toss up. And i have counted a 2 of the last 3 finals had English clubs. That should be regarded as a success and losing in a final is just the way it goes some times.

I do agree that the playing schedules are a bit of an issue. This also included the 6n's which bounces in to the mix as well. They could be a lot of room for negotiation here.

As i said, from what i can guess regarding the finances and monetary rewards, the clubs are getting a raw deal. The ERC must be raking in the cash!

SO i cant disagree with the French and English. In fact i really wonder why the Irish Provinces are not also coming in and complaining also.

Is it a risk for me t say that the HC is now too big to fail? I mean 10 years ago they could have stopped it and nobody would have bated an eyelid, but now... I mean its one of the biggest club competitions on the planet. If not the Biggest. Its a cash cow for someone... Just seems the clubs are being given the dirty end of the stick