Welsh clubs want more cash to break away

ESPN Staff    From ESPN SCRUM

October 14, 2013

Welsh teams are set to ask for a bigger share of the spoils in return for ditching the Heineken Cup and throwing in their lot with the breakaway Champions' Cup according to a report in the Rugby Paper.

As it stands, projected income will only leave the clubs around £100,000 better off than they are in the current system - the paper estimates they get £1.3 million now - and it is felt that their as their participation is a key part of making the new event credible, they should get more of the income.

The English and French clubs leading the breakaway will make around £1.7 million each from the new competition and it is expected the Welsh will ask for the same when talks resume this week.

It is looking increasingly likely the Celtic unions will agree to back the new competition rather than be left with the shell of the Heineken Cup as it stands.

The Rugby Paper quoted an unnamed English source as saying "there is a reluctant acceptance of what we are doing … [there is a] realisation that what we are proposing is not as revolutionary as it sounds.

"The Unions might now recognise that this new competition is beneficial to everyone. There will be significantly more for all the competing teams."