The former England captain Lawrence Dallaglio has urged rugby's governing bodies to preserve the European Cup or risk the southern hemisphere continuing to dominate the Rugby World Cup.
The future of the tournament is up in the air after English and French clubs gave notice to leave at the end of the season after a fractious series of negotiations mainly involving money and qualification issues.
Dallaglio says given all but one World Cup has been won by southern hemisphere sides the European Cup must pit the best against the best or it will damage prospects of the Webb Ellis Trophy staying north of the equator when England host the 2015 tournament.
