IRFU Chief Accuses English Clubs Of ‘Misinformation’

IRFU chief executive Philip Browne has accused English clubs of fueling media reports regarding the ongoing negotiations with the French and English for newly structured European competitions.

“I think there is a fair degree of misinformation floating around in the media in relation to this,” he told the Irish Times.” I think there is some pretty errant nonsense in the media – I presume it comes from the English clubs – suggesting ERC aren’t entitled to centrally sell the rights for future competitions.

“That’s nonsense as it has been done in the past. How else do you secure your future but by selling your rights?

“It is also strange that they take that view when they also have a shareholder on the board and were present when that decision was rightly taken.

“It is also bizarre that Premier Rugby Ltd (English) castigated ERC for selling the rights centrally then went off and sold the rights to all matches involving English teams in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland to BT Vision without any reference to the Irish union, Scottish union, Welsh union or, I think, to the English union.”