Euro formats to be evaluated

European Rugby Club (ERC) stakeholders have requested to undertake a comprehensive evaluation of the proposals for change to European club rugby tournaments for the 2014/15 season and beyond.

Following a productive meeting of representatives of ERC stakeholders in Dublin on Tuesday, the two proposed format changes of a 20-club and a 32-club European Cup, along with the current European Cup and Challenge Cup tournament models, will be evaluated in detail.

This evaluation will examine the rationale for the proposed changes to both tournaments, as well as the impact on all stakeholders of any change to the format and structure of the competitions.

The evaluation will be completed during the six-week period before the fourth meeting of ERC stakeholders which will be held in London on Wednesday, December 12.

The current Accord, which was agreed by all stakeholders in 2007, includes a two-year notice period which began on June 1, 2012 to allow for negotiations towards the formulation of a new Accord.

The structure and format of both the European Cup and the Challenge Cup remain in place until the end of the 2013/14 season.