Mckay is ‘optimistic’ about new global club rugby event

European rugby chiefs admit that attempts to set up a Club Rugby World Cup remain ongoing with no deadline set for the concept to get off the ground.

The competition, that would pit the best domestic sides from the northern and southern hemispheres against each other every four years, received public backing from unions and leagues in the summer yet is no closer to fruition.

European Professional Club Rugby chairman Dominic Mckayis “optimistic” it will happen despite the many hurdles faced in establishing a global tournament.

“It’s been a topic of conversation for some considerable time. We’re making some good progress,” said Mckay, the former Celtic chief executive and SRU chief operating officer. “We’re doing a lot of work behind the scenes to evaluate it. It needs to be additive to what we currently enjoy and be complementary to the existing structures. It’s certainly possible and we’ re chop ping through the detail methodically right now.

“Rugby is littered with great ideas that never come to fruition but I’m optimistic that we’re making good progress.

“We won’t be definitive on a timeline because that creates undue expectation, but we have to keep working away like we did on the South African sides working their way into Europe. We’re delighted that’s come to fruition. The next project is the concept of a world club challenge.”

South African sides are taking part in the Champions and Challenge Cup for the first time this season but Mckay revealed there are “checks in place” to review their participation. It is understood that the French league is unconvinced by having the Sharks, Stormers, Bulls, Lions and Cheetahs in European competition with the logistics and safety over away fixtures the primary concern.

Mckay said finals would continue to be in established rugby nations only, ruling out a “destination” final such as Barcelona, but is open to one in South Africa in the future.