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English and French clubs will form a new breakaway competition from next season after talks about continuing the Heineken Cup were finally ended.
In a statement released by Premiership Rugby, the new competition will kick-off in 2014/15 and will also be open to teams from other nations.
That means the Heineken Cup as we know it will effectively be over in May next year when the final takes place at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.
"The 2013/14 Aviva Premiership Rugby season kicked off this weekend with our clubs having no clear view of new European competitions from next season onwards," read the press release, with the decision leaving an uncertain future for Welsh, Irish, Italian and Scottish teams.
"The current European Rugby Cup (ERC) competitions terminate at the end of this season after notice was served by the English and French clubs in June 2012.
"Despite numerous meetings between the stakeholders over the last year, the last of which was in May, discussions have been unsuccessful and the clubs can only conclude that negotiations on any new European agreement have now ended.
"The English and French clubs have proposed the formation of two new, stronger competitions of 20 teams each, based on the principles of qualification on merit from each league, the inclusion of teams from all six existing countries and the expansion into new markets. These proposals could form the basis of future competitions.
"However, given the importance and urgency of the current position, and the reconfirmation that the French clubs will not participate in any competition unless it includes the English clubs, the clubs have now asked Premiership Rugby to take immediate action to put in place a competition for 2014/15 to include the French and English clubs but which will also be open to teams from other countries."
Read more: http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,2...915256,00.html