Lapasset warns English, French rugby clubs on breakaway

[YahooNews]

World rugby supremo Bernard Lapasset has warned English and French clubs wishing to form a breakaway European club competition that they do not have the right to impose their will on other leagues reluctant to join them. The 66-year-old Frenchman -- president of the International Rugby Board since replacing Irishman Syd Millar in 2008 -- has kept his own counsel while the English and French clubs have tried to persuade their counterparts in Wales, Ireland, Italy and Scotland to leave the European Rugby Cup (ERC), who organise the European Cup and Challenge, and join the planned 20-team Champions Cup from next year. The Welsh provinces were won over by their arguments and agreed last week to join the Champions Cup, whose inception was first announced to great fanfare by English and French clubs in September. The English and French -- whose federation are not in favour of the breakaway -- are unhappy with the qualifying system and also the distribution of revenue from the European Cup.