Compromise on TV coverage could yet save Heineken Cup

Jonny Wilkinson (R) and Joe van Niekerk of Toulon raise the Heineken Cup after their victory last year

An offer by BT Sports to share coverage with Sky could lead to the Heineken Cup going ahead next season after 18 months of doubt over the future of the competition.

Neither broadcaster wanted to share the rights to cover the competition, but Sky might be persuaded by an offer that apparently gives them rights to the home matches of English and French clubs.

England, France and Wales look likely to sign up to an agreement drawn up by the six main unions, but there is still no great confidence that a deal can be struck, with television the key to its success. European Rugby Cup, the Heineken Cup organisers, have a contract with Sky and Premiership rugby one with BT Sport.

Such is the lack of confidence that the Heineken Cup will indeed re-emerge next season under the control of the Six Nations committee, along with the Amlin Cup, that an Anglo-Welsh league is still under discussion.

Under the proposed arrangement for the Heineken Cup, the Aviva Premiership, Top 14 and Pro 12 would have control of the commercial side of the operation.

Bath claimed a bonus-point victory to cement third place in the Aviva Premiership after Wasps pushed them all the way with strong, inventive running. Bath had the firepower to come through as 32-25 winners at home, thanks to two tries by the wing Anthony Watson and one each for Nick Abendanon and Kyle Eastmond. Wasps scored three tries but they never had their noses in front.

Gloucester enjoyed the rare joy of a League victory when they came out 25-20 to the good against Harlequins at Kingsholm. The cherry and whites took control after the break, when they had been trailing 13-7, and secured their first League victory since December after tries from the flanker Matt Kvesic and Dan Murphy, the replacement prop, and two penalties and a conversion by Rob Cook.

The bottom club Worcester were overpowered 24‑12 at home by Sale, despite two second-half tries from the lock Mariano Galarza. The wing Mark Cueto and the flanker Dan Braid went over for sixth-placed Sale.