The inevitable collision between the English club money men and the European unions - or the nouveau riche and the aristocracy - appears to have found its primary battleground. And in perhaps the most significant reaction in the fallout from the English clubs' stated intention to withdraw from the European Cup, influential French figures have hinted they might follow suit.

This would substantiate the view that plans for an AngloFrench Cup are already afoot. It is already well known within European Rugby Cup Ltd that representatives from the English clubs have been to France for discussions toward that end.

However, whereas the English clubs are both financially stronger and more independent from their comparatively weak Union, the French Union has a greater hold over its clubs. Whatever behind the scenes talks take place over the next few days, it is undoubtedly true that the ERC board will face one of its most testing meetings when it reconvenes in Dublin on Friday week.

A member of that 12-man board, and also a member of the IRFU Committee, Peter Boyle, reflected the indignant reaction from official quarters in the Celtic unions. "The basic problem is that the English clubs are paying everyone above the odds and can't afford it. They want to plunder our players and then they want to kick us out (of the European Cup). They want everything, and they don't care one iota about rugby union."

Boyle believes that the ERC must hold their nerve and that the key component in all of this will be the Five Nations, of whom ERC is a branch. He admitted that the demise and diminution of the Heineken Cup would be a serious blow for Irish, Scottish, Welsh and Italian rugby.

Boyle has limited sympathy for the English clubs. "My view is that there is some substance to their stance and that they are genuinely unhappy with the (European) Conference." However, Boyle argued that the Conference would become a more viable entity were plans for its expansion to countries such as Spain, Portugal, Germany and Holland to go ahead. He also added that ERC "can do anything it wants" vis-a-vis the itinerary of the European Cup so as to assuage the English clubs' complaints about the competition's timing and structure.

In this regard, Boyle agreed that there was also an element of sabre-rattling by the English club benefactors who, he added, ought to be careful about going down an isolationist or exclusively AngloFrench route. "English rugby has got to look at the effect exclusion from the rest of Europe had on English soccer for a number of years."

Nonetheless, such a self-imposed exclusion would be relative, all the more so if the French joined forces with them. Jean-Jacques Madrias, president of European champions Brive, said that without English clubs there was no point having a European Cup. "In order that this competition remains a proper event there must be English and French clubs involved," he added.

Seraphin Berthier, the president of France's elite rugby union association (CNRE), also feared for the competition, as well as the European Conference. "There are three possible solutions. The English clubs could return, we could organise an Anglo-French tournament or the European Cup competitions could disappear altogether, leaving the way open for a competition to be contested by the provinces," said Berthier.

Berthier said that he sympathised with the English clubs stance. "Their real motive behind pulling out is to do with forcing the ERC (the organising committee) to reform the calendar and reorganise the finances," he said.

"Before the last ERC meeting in December France and England proposed that two teams from each country (Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Italy, England and France) should qualify directly for the European Cup and the other places should be decided on the previous year's results," he added.

Scottish Rugby Union spokesman Charlie Laidlaw took one of the more phlegmatic viewpoints when commenting: "We regard this as a purely domestic English issue. Our district sides will not be affected by this decision. They will play in both competitions next season. The matter is not an issue in Scotland."

Generally though, the Celtic nations reacted indignantly. "My reaction is one of extreme disappointment - the English clubs are attempting to put in place a structure that best suits them," said the Welsh Rugby Union's director of rugby Terry Cobner.

"I believe it is an extremely short-sighted attitude. Their decision is a major setback for the development of European rugby."

Ian Rankin, coach of Scottish district champions Caledonia Reds, claimed English clubs' action had a desire for "money and personal gain stamped all over it", adding: "It is a worrying development."

Rugby Football Union chairman Cliff Brittle pledged to try to get the clubs to change their minds. "I hope that our clubs will remain in European competition," he said. "I will be having extended talks with the representatives of the Premiership One teams in the next few days."

England captain Lawrence Dallaglio was not happy to be told that Wasps would not be playing in Europe next season. "It will be extremely disappointing if we cannot play in Europe next season because we've enjoyed playing against new opposition in the last couple of seasons, but I know that the clubs are working for the game's future," he said.

A moot point. The game's future, or their own?

Leicester Tigers captain Martin Johnson returns for the re-arranged Tetley's Bitter Cup game against Coventry at Coundon Road tomorrow. The match was postponed last week because of a waterlogged pitch.Austin Healey returns to scrum half which means disappointment for James Ferris, who was due to make his debut last week if the game had been played. If centre Stuart Potter is ruled out Andrew Leeds will move from fullback to centre with Geordan Murphy taking over at fullback.