English, French to resume talks over Heineken Cup

DUBLIN (AP) — English and French clubs have agreed to resume negotiations to resolve a dispute about the future of the Heineken Cup, a day after declaring their intention to set up a rival competition.

Top-flight teams from England and France are unhappy with Europe’s leading competition, saying the qualifying process favors sides from Wales, Ireland Scotland and Italy, and also feel the income is distributed unfairly.

On Tuesday, they said discussions have ended and proposed the formation of a breakaway European competition but they have backed down following a board meeting of the ERC, which organizes the Heineken Cup and the second-tier Challenge Cup.

ERC says Wednesday that English and French clubs “have reaffirmed their commitment” to new negotiations where the “current points of difference … would all be on the table.”