Euro row could lead to rugby strike

Updated 10.04 Tue Apr 17 2007

Keywords: boycott, European cup, rugby, sport

Rugby union's top stars could go on strike if there is no resolution in the stand-off between the clubs and the game's governing body.

The Professional Rugby Players' Association is considering balloting its members over taking action if the row between Premier Rugby and the Rugby Football Union over shareholding and voting rights in European Rugby Cup Ltd is not resolved.

"If common sense doesn't prevail, then where else can you turn? The game is not so much shooting itself in the foot, as blowing off both feet" - Professional Rugby Players' Association chief executive Damian Hopley

The clubs want a share of voting rights but the RFU's refusal to hand that over has led to clubs in the Guinness Premiership and their French counterparts deciding to boycott next season's European competitions.

Players' union chief executive Damian Hopley said: "If revolution is the only language that people can understand, then maybe we will have to ballot our members and see if they are willing to take strike action.

"If common sense doesn't prevail, then where else can you turn? The game is not so much shooting itself in the foot, as blowing off both feet."

Hopley added in a national newspaper: "We have this Jerry Springer-type washing of dirty linen in public, which does no-one any good."

The RFU has written to English clubs to explain the legal implications of the European boycott going ahead.