Door open for Euro rebels - WRU chief

Welsh rugby chief Roger Lewis believes "the door remains open" for top English and French clubs to play in next season's Heineken Cup.

Tournament organisers have vowed to press ahead with plans for a "European club rugby tournament" in 2007-08 - despite the damaging Anglo-French boycott.

"Ideally, we would like the Guinness Premiership and French Championship clubs to remain in the fold, and the door remains open for that possibility," said Welsh Rugby Union group chief executive Lewis. "However, there is now a clear mandate for a European competition to take place next season and we will work as hard as possible to ensure it is a success."

He added: "This is a significant step forward from the gloomy picture that we faced last week with the announcement that the French and English clubs will boycott next season's Heineken Cup.

"It was vitally important for the players, coaches and fans to know that there will be a European competition next season. That is the starting point for us all, as is the fact that each of the six participating unions have agreed to enter teams.

"What will follow is the fine detail, but the Welsh regions can look forward to playing European rugby next season.

"We have been here before in Europe. There were only teams from four nations in the first year, and we had to live without the English clubs in the 1998-1999 season - but the show went on and the Heineken Cup has grown in stature year on year as a result."