Club World Cup talks take place as European rugby discuss Bernard Laporte idea

Laporte is in the running to become World Rugby’s vice-president

Bernard Laporte has floated the idea of a Club World Cup (AFP)

A Club World Cup moved a step closer with European rugby bosses holding talks over the idea.

The European Professional Club Rugby body insists the proposed new tournament would only compliment existing tournaments, rather than increase congestion in the calendar.

The proposal is for a tournament to be held every four years.

This would go against the initial idea of French Rugby Federation president Bernard Laporte, who floated the possibility of an annual 20-team world club tournament to replace the Heineken Champions Cup.

Laporte is in the running to become World Rugby vice-president this summer.

The comments prompted the body representing European clubs to divulge their own talks on the issue.

A statement read: "EPCR has noted today's media reports regarding a proposal for an annual Club World Cup.

"Discussions have already taken place on an official level between EPCR and its shareholders regarding a global club tournament which could complement the Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup and which could take place once every four years. Work on possible formats is ongoing with a collaborative approach and issues of player welfare to the fore.

"EPCR does not believe it appropriate to highlight such discussions while the public health crisis due to Covid-19 continues, and currently the organisation's focus is on attempting to reschedule the knockout stages of the 2019-20 tournaments subject to government and local authority directives."

PA contributed to this report