The tournament is played in four unions but only attracts crowds to compare with England and France in one,IrelandThe European Rugby Champions Cup reaches its quarter-final stage this weekend, having become an Anglo-French affair. Five Premiership clubs and three sides from the Top 14 build up the final eight with the Pro12 left to focus on domestic matters.
It was the outcome feared by many in the Pro12 when the European Cup was shaken up to build it more meritocratic and run by clubs rather than unions. Even without the change in the way money from the Champions and Challenge Cups is distributed has changed, or it has not so far benefited the French and English because income levels contain yet to rise appreciably,not that they are feeling any pinch.
Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com