Rugby Union: Brittle fuels elite feud

Thursday 05 February 1998 01:02 GMT

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Cliff Brittle, the chairman of the Rugby Football Union, has escalated the feud between Twickenham and the leading clubs by outlawing the proposed Anglo-French competition.

England's elite clubs have rejected the European Cup in a dispute over the scheduling of fixtures and want to set up their own Anglo-French tournament.

Brittle, in a joint statement with Bernard Lapasset, the French federation president, said: "The RFU and the FFR have agreed that they will not support any Anglo-French competition which is outside the organisation of European Rugby Cup Ltd."

Peter Wheeler, spokesman for England's top 12 clubs, said: "Our decision remains unchanged. The clubs have no confidence in ERC."

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