By Gary Anderson at Clifford Chance in Canary Wharf in London 

September 18 - IOC member Octavian Morariu wants players to come first in European Rugby disputeNewly elected International Olympic Committee (IOC) member and European Rugby Association (FIRA-AER) President Octavian Morariu has urged all sides in the ongoing Heineken Cup dispute to put the interests of players first above anything else.


The Romanian, who heads the 48-member FIRA-AER, claimed that the Heineken Cup is crucial to the development of rugby in Europe and needs to remain in its current format.

"As President of the ERA, I am concerned and I would like the dispute to be settled between the Unions and the clubs, in order to have a strong European competition," Morariu told insidethegames.

"The Heineken Cup has [developed into the premier competition for clubs] and we have the Six Nations for international rugby and the Heineken [Cup] is the club competition.

"It is very important to have an international competition between the clubs because it gives a very good image for rugby.

"We are working on encouraging the Unions to talk with the clubs to make sure that we have better visibility in the long term for this competition."

The dispute stems from the English and French clubs serving notice to tournament organisers European Rugby Cup (ERC) - who sanction the Heineken Cup and the secondary club competition the Amlin Challenge Cup - that they will be pulling out of both competitions when the current participation agreement ends in May 2014.

The English and French clubs argue that as they provide around 80 per cent of television revenue for the tournaments, they should get more of a say in how the competitions are organised.

They want to see the amount of teams taking part in the Heineken Cup reduced from 24 to 20, and qualification for the tournament based on merit.

French side Toulon lift the 2013 Heineken Cup trophy following their victory at Dublin's Aviva StadiumFrench side Toulon lift the 2013 Heineken Cup trophy following their victory at Dublin's Aviva Stadium


























Currently, clubs in the English and French domestic leagues have to finish in the top six to qualify for the Heineken Cup, while of the RaboDirct Pro12 teams - from Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales – three of the four Irish and Welsh sides are guaranteed qualification while the two Italian and two Scottish teams gain entry to the tournament regardless of where they finish in the Pro12.

The winners of the Amlin Cup and Heineken Cup each gain entry to the competition for the next season and also earn their countries an extra qualification spot.

But, as France and England are only allowed a maximum of seven clubs in the Heineken Cup in any one season, should the winners of both competitions come from either of these countries, then the second additional spot will pass on to the club with the highest ERC European Ranking who has not already qualified, from any of the other five nations.

The French and English clubs argue that this is unfair and puts them at a disadvantage in the competitions.

The Amlin Challenge Cup, involves teams from England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, Wales, Portugal and Romania.

Morariu, 52, had a successful rugby career in Romania and France as well as making a number of international appearances, and he believes that denying players across Europe the chance to play at the highest level they can in club rugby will damage the game and its development.

"We need to think of the players in terms of personal development and enhancement, because you have players who would like to play major competitions, they like to be visible and we have to think of the players, regardless of the economic positions of the federations or of the clubs," said Morariu.

"We have to think of the players, this is a very important question.

"I think players want to play in a strong European competition.

"This competition should stay as it is.

"This affects players from across Europe, because players want to play in the best competitions, and I think it is important that the decision makers in this process not only think of themselves but also of the players."

Morariu's election as an IOC member at the 125th Session in Buenos Aires last month - with 73 votes for and 14 against - saw him become only the fourth Romanian to be elected to that position following Prince George Ghe Bibescu, George Alexandro Plagino and Alexdru Siperco.

Morariu is congratulated by former IOC President Jacgues Rogge on his election as an IOC member in Buenos AiresMorariu is congratulated by former IOC President Jacgues Rogge on his election as an IOC member in Buenos Aires

























Following his Presidency of the Romanian Rugby Federation (RRF) from 2001 to 2003, Morariu has been President of the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee (COSR) since 2004 and was elected head of the FIRA-AER in July this year.

The Romanian claimed he has no immediate plans to use his new IOC status to help bolster a bid to become International Rugby Board (IRB) President, insisting that the man currently in the role, Frenchman Bernard Lapasset is doing a "good job".

"Although I have been asked this question already, my answer is to say that people looking after rugby already, they are my friends," he told insidethegames.

"I played with them, I played against them, and I know that they are very competent because they have been involved for so many years.

"If I can be of any support to them I would be more than happy now to help with my new position in the IOC.

"I already have enough to do with the FIRA-AER and obviously I will be busy with the IOC from now on so it's not a thought that has crossed my mind."

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