Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

EPCR chief McKay delivers his latest Club Rugby World Cup update

By PA
(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

European rugby chiefs have admitted that attempts to set up a Club Rugby World Cup remain ongoing with no deadline set for the concept to get off the ground. The competition that would pit the best domestic sides from the northern and southern hemispheres against each other every four years received public backing from unions and leagues during the summer yet is no closer to fruition.

ADVERTISEMENT

European Professional Club Rugby chairman Dominic McKay is optimistic it will happen despite the many hurdles faced in establishing a global tournament. “It has been a topic of conversation for some considerable time. We’re making some good progress,” McKay said.

“We are doing a lot of work behind the scenes to evaluate it as a proposition. It needs to be additive to what we currently enjoy and be complementary to the existing structures. Everyone is leaning in to find the right outcome, but we will do that in a measured and sensible way. It’s certainly possible and we are chopping through the detail methodically right now.

Video Spacer

Video Spacer

“Nothing is agreed until everything is agreed and we have got a bit of work to get through. Rugby is littered with great ideas that never come to fruition but I’m optimistic that we are making good progress.

“We won’t be definitive on a timeline because that creates undue expectation, but we have to keep working away like we did on the South African sides working their way into Europe. That was a really important project for us over the last nine months and we are delighted that has come to fruition. The next project is the concept of a world club challenge.”

Related

South African sides are taking part in the Champions and Challenge Cup for the first time this season but McKay revealed there are checks in place to review their participation. It is understood that the French league is unconvinced by the presence of the Sharks, Stormers, Bulls, Lions and Cheetahs in European competition with the logistics and safety surrounding away fixtures the primary concern.

McKay stated that finals would continue to be staged only in established rugby nations, ruling out a destination final such as Barcelona, but is open to one being held in South Africa at some point in the future.

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

LONG READ
LONG READ Why England's defence of the realm has crumbled without Felix Jones Why England's defence of the realm has crumbled without Felix Jones
Search