The European peace deal averted a crisis that could have seriously damaged professional rugby's world image, according to International Rugby Board boss Brett Gosper.
The Champions Cup will replace the Heineken Cup next season, with BT Sport and Sky agreeing to share broadcasting rights.
Premiership Rugby believes the eight-year tournament deal could ratchet revenue up by as much as 70 per cent as Europe’s top clubs seek to emulate football’s Champions League growth model.
IRB chief executive Gosper said the new European tournament accord must usher in a “long period of harmony” to allow rugby to take advantage of a host of new commercial opportunities.
“What you don’t want is that to blow up into something that’s bad for the game in general. That risked happening this time, but as it turns out we’ve got agreement and long may it last. Of course you hope that we’re in for a long period of harmony and constructive coexistence,” said Gosper.
“There will always be some frictions between the club game and the game at international and union level.
“There’s a very crowded calendar, the players play for both constituencies, so there’s always going to be a little bit of friction and tug-of-war around the edges.
“Hopefully everyone can move on now. It’s a long-term deal and hopefully we will see the benefits of this in terms of money coming into the game and spectator experience in a wonderful tournament across Europe.”
The European revolution will see the addition of a third-tier club tournament for the first time next season, the qualifying competition allowing teams from lower-ranked leagues entry into the second-tier Challenge Cup.
Gosper said part of the IRB’s late involvement in the European wrangles was to ensure methods of growing the game outside traditional heartlands, with the qualifying competition clear fruition.
“That is something that we were involved in, in terms of the discussions, to ensure that third level would be present,” he said.
“It’s a great thing, it’s broadening the base potentially of professional rugby, which is great.
“We’re pleased there’s been an agreement and an outcome, we’re pleased that in that process we’d managed through our unions to protect the IRB regulations.
“So player windows and international releases are being protected.”
