French To Boycott Europe

French Boycott Euros
By Andrew Collins
January 17 2007

The French clubs will not take part in the 07/08 Heineken Cup

News that no French side will compete in next seasons Heienken Cup has rocked the competitions board, and thrust doubt over its future.

With it being World Cup year, the French League's top teams are concerned about the impact of their already crowded fixture list.

Their domestic competition has already had to delay its kick off due to the late-running World Cup.

"French clubs will not be participating in next season's tournament,"

Said a League Nationale de Rugby statement. It went on to say,

"Due to the gravity and urgency of the situation, the LNR has consulted with all the presidents of the Top 14 clubs. They have all unanimously indicated the conditions do not exist for the LNR to sign the new agreement governing the European Cup (due to take effect in 2009) and, because of this, French clubs will not be participating in next season's tournament."

France is very proud of its League, and it is held in higher reguard than the Heineken Cup by many sides. Whereas the Welsh, Scottish, Irish and English sides save their best XV for the European Cup, the French sides often feild a lesser squad, such as Bourgoin have done.

It will be the first time in the competitions 12 year history that French sides have not competed. In the inaugural season, the English sides were not present, and the Itailians were invited later, but the French, Welsh, Irish and Scots have all been there for the duration...until now.

Out of the 11 winners thus far, the French have won it four times, Tolouse three times, and Brive once.

Tolouse beat off Cardiff in the first ever year, an extra-time drop goal eventually winning the match for the French outfit. No Welsh, Scottish or Italian side has ever won it.