The wonder that is the Heineken Cup is upon us, so forgive me for being a party pooper. But there are things about Europe that bug me.
No argument, the Heineken Cup is brilliant: the highlight of the club season and at its best something that threatens to nudge internationals out of the limelight.
Fans love it and since those first stuttering steps in 1995, when the English clubs dithered about entering, the quality has improved year on year until last spring Wasps beat Munster at Lansdowne Road in arguably the best club game ever played. The final against Toulouse wasn't bad either, with Rob Howley nicking the ball and the winning try from under Clément Poitrenaud's nose.
And it goes on. This year the prospect is equally mouthwatering with Stade Français, Ulster, Cardiff and Gloucester in one group, Bath, Bourgoin and Leinster in another and Wasps, Biarritz and Leicester in the group of death.
I've had a few moans about the variable standard of refereeing - especially when Gloucester have been on the wrong end of dodgy decisions - but even then it's part of the adventure of playing in new arenas, part of the joy of not having to tramp around the same old Zurich venues week after week and being bright enough to make allowances for different interpretations of the laws.
I'm even prepared to accept one-off quarter-finals, though home and away would probably be fairer. After all, teams who have done well in the pool stage are entitled to something for their labours.
No, the two things that get under my skin are playing against sides I don't feel should be in the main competition, and teams that qualify with one set of players and then compete with a new line-up.
I have doubts about the fairness of qualifying by winning the Powergen Cup and I'm certain that winning the European Challenge Cup just isn't good enough. Sorry, Newcastle and Harlequins, but if there are six places for English clubs in the Heineken they should go to the top six in the Premiership.
And sorry to those non-salary-capped French clubs such as Biarritz who have the likes of Damien Traille and Imanol Harinordoquy among the nine new names registered for this year's competition. The Basque club were pretty formidable last time - ask Sale - and now have 19 internationals on their books compared with the pitiful 13 who got to the semi-finals.
Is this whingeing? Possibly. Whistling in the wind? Possibly not.
In another part of the forest, the International Rugby Board continues to fret about the global game and the endless search for a worldwide rugby season. I know, we have been here before. But this time there is real momentum for something to happen - and not only because the board has put its hand in its pocket and commissioned Deloittes to sort out the practicalities.
The southern hemisphere is in favour and England and Wales have warmed to the idea. Barely a meeting goes by at Twickenham without the marketing men pushing the financial advantages, but it makes sense playing-wise as well.
Were the seasons to be synchronised - or at least brought closer together - the internationals played between World Cup years would become more relevant. England wouldn't have to send to Australia and New Zealand a team knackered by a season that was already too long.
What does appeal is a programme that begins with an abbreviated (wait for it) domestic programme, moves on to Europe - the six top Zurich clubs in the season competing in the Heineken and the bottom six in the Challenge Cup - and then into the Six Nations, a fierce and fine competition in itself but given the added spice of being preparation for overseas tours.
It's the "abbreviated" bit which causes a sharp intake of breath, but we are asking our players to play too much rugby.
Rubbish international games bolted on to the calendar are a pain, but there is no denying that meaningful Tests fill Twickenham and are the financial engine that drives the game, creating the money that the top clubs and the grass roots all need and all spend. Europe is marvellous and could be enhanced rather than damaged. So something has to give and it may be time to think the unthinkable.
In no particular order and with no great affection I offer: do Zurich clubs have to play one another home and away? What about two conferences with end-of-competition play-offs? Or dividing the Premiership into two divisions? And where does the cup stand in the pecking order?
