Blues: We will fight for our Euro place
CARDIFF Blues are ready to fight any moves to ditch them from the Champions Cup to make way for South African sides.
Dai Young’s team believed they had done enough to qualify for Europe’s elite event by finishing fourth in their PRO14 conference.
If the Champions Cup stays at 24 teams, which is the expectation, then the PRO14 would, once again, have eight sides on board.
In theory, that would mean the top four from each conference earning a seat at Europe’s top table.
But there is a fresh twist to the tale that is concerning Cardiff.
According to a report in the Sunday Times, South African sides may well be included in next season’s European competitions as part of a 10-year deal.
And the suggestion is some of them could qualify for the Champions Cup via the new Rainbow Cup.
That’s the cross-continent competition which will see the four South African Super Rugby sides – the Sharks, Stormers, Bulls and Lions – battle it out with the PRO14 teams from Wales, Ireland, Scotland and Italy.
It will get under way on April 24 and feature six rounds of matches, culminating in a final on June 19.
The Times says it’s understood the South African teams who finish high enough in the new event will be allowed to take part in the Heineken Champions Cup.
But that could put Cardiff’s place in the competition at risk.
If, say, two South African sides were accommodated in the Champions Cup, it could mean just the top six from the PRO14
season qualifying.
That would mean the Ospreys and Scarlets, who both finished third in their conferences, being on board but Cardiff missing out.
That’s not something the Arms Park club are prepared to accept, however.
“The participation agreement we have got is quite clear,” said chief executive Richard Holland.
“It says 18 teams in the Champions Cup means six qualify from the PRO14, 24 means eight qualify.
“The South African sides didn’t participate in the PRO14.
“We are not going to give up a spot to them. If the English or
French want to, then boots.
“We have spoken to the WRU and they are on our side. We are all aligned on it.
“No one can dictate to the PRO14 that they include South African teams in the the sides they put forward to the Champions Cup.
“And the PRO14 is owned by the four nations who are the shareholders – Wales, Ireland, Scotland and Italy.
“Having South African sides qualifying via the Rainbow Cup would not be agreeable to Wales and they are a shareholder.
“You cannot move the goalleague
fill your posts like that.
“If there are 24 teams in the Champions Cup, then we would expect to be one of those teams.
“We will not be relinquishing a place to the benefit of the South Africans. We would fight any such moves.”
Cardiff have spent the past two seasons in the second-tier Challenge Cup. They are away to London Irish in the last 16 on Friday.
Having seemingly earned a place back in the top event, they are determined to hold on to it.
The Scottish Rugby Union are likely to take a similar stance as Glasgow finished fourth in the other PRO14 conference.