The Heineken Cup is facing a crisis today after France last night revealed that it will withdraw its clubs from the competition next season.
Serge Blanco, the former international full-back and now the president of the French league, confirmed the decision last night and there is a fear that English clubs may follow suit.
"We are boycotting next season's European Cup," he said. "This is a heartbreaking decision to have to make but we are convinced that if we did not do this our domestic championship will be dead by 2009."
France is angry that next season's domestic programme will be squeezed by the World Cup, which it will host in September and October. It claims that plans to play league matches at the same time as the World Cup would cost it a fortune in television and sponsorship revenue. The alternative, rescheduling of league matches, will leave no room for European competition.
Blanco added: "The long-term consequences are very dangerous both for our clubs and for the English clubs. More and more international matches are undermining the domestic competitions in both countries.
"Next season in England 10 of the 22 rounds in the Premiership will be played during international weekends, which is ridiculous. Our championships are losing their value."
England, meanwhile, have worries before the Six Nations. The Wasps wing Paul Sackey has sustained a leg injury which is likely to keep him out of Saturday's Heineken Cup group decider in Castres. Sackey is his club's top try-scorer this season with 11 and was one of the few England players to impress in the autumn internationals.
Wasps yesterday refused to elaborate on the 27-year old's injury but, with Mark Cueto having not played for Sale since December 10 because of a groin injury, England may be left with Josh Lewsey and Jason Robinson as their wing options.
Sale have been dogged by injuries all season and the scrum-half Sililo Martens yesterday became their fifth player to be ruled out for the rest of the campaign. He is to have reconstruction surgery on his shoulder and will be out of action for between four and five months.
The club's Welsh international and Lions centre Mark Taylor, 33, has attracted the interest of Newport Gwent Dragons. Taylor, who joined the Premiership champions from Llanelli Scarlets two years ago, started his senior career at Pontypool and is out of contract in the summer.
"He would be an invaluable signing for us, particularly in World Cup year," said the Dragons' head coach, Paul Turner. "We have been speaking to his agent and it is a case of monitoring things, especially as he is currently out of action. Mark is a player I have always admired."
