European Rugby Chiefs Want 'Radical Restructuring' Of Domestic Leagues

Europe's rugby chiefs are "calling for a radical restructuring of the domestic leagues as part of the negotiations over the new global calendar from 2019," according to Gavin Mairs of the London TELEGRAPH. The plans on the table would require the English and Pro 12 domestic fixture lists "would be redrawn" to make sure that the European Champions and Challenge Cups pool matches "are played in one extended block during December and January." Also, the plans would include holding the quarterfinals of both European tournaments before the start of the Six Nations Championship "to allow more than two months to market and sell tickets" for the semifinals, which have been "problematic fixtures in recent seasons." Pool matches of the Champions Cup "are currently played in a stop-start fashion over six weekends in October, December and January" (TELEGRAPH, 10/13).