Post by caspday on Sept 23, 2012 22:07:45 GMT -5
Stakeholders gathered in Dublin this week for zyhaa924 a meeting Dolphins Jerseys to discuss the future of the Heineken Cup. There were representatives from the organisers, European Rugby Cup Ltd, the six unions involved and three of the block of teams that take part in the events, English clubs, French clubs and Welsh regions.A group that could be regarded as the most important stakeholders of all, the players, were not represented. It is rare to speak to a player who does not regard the Heineken Cup as a significant step up from league rugby.
"Just short of the international game," is a common Dolphins Jerseys Shop refrain, but years of political strife in the professional game have seen players generally kept on the outside."I do not know what the Heineken Cup dispute is about," said the Northampton captain and England hooker, Dylan Hartley, this week at the launch of QBE Rugby Pro, an initiative for grassroots clubs to win a training session with Aviva Premiership players. "All I do know is that I enjoy playing in the tournament and a couple of seasons ago I was 40 minutes away from winning the trophy."
Northampton's Heineken Cup campaign begins against GlasgowReebok Dolphins Jerseys at Franklin's Gardens next month. Before then, they have three Premiership fixtures, at home to Worcester and Wasps in the next two rounds before travelling to the team currently sitting at the bottom of the table, London Irish. After winning their opening three games, the Saints are out for six of the best."I am very happy with the start we have made," said Hartley. "We have not been at our best yet, but to win at places like Gloucester and Bath means we are doing something right.
We have to carry it on and it would be good to go into the Reggie Bush JerseysHeineken Cup unbeaten, but our next three games are all tough."Northampton have become the nearly men since their return to the Premiership after a season in the second tier. They lost out to Leinster in the 2011 Heineken Cup final and they have become regulars in the Premiership play-offs but have yet it to make it to Twickenham."We have to take the next step this season," said Hartley. "That means not just finishing in the top four, but getting a home draw in the play-offs.
There are key moments during the season, such as Karlos Dansby Jerseys around Christmas time and in the Six Nations when you have players away; win your blocks of games in those periods, as Leicester tend to do, and it sets you up for the end."The Premiership is only three rounds old, but the top four has a familiar feel: the same clubs as last season, if in a different order, and they are all unbeaten. Northampton entertain Saracens at the end of October and travel to Leicester a week later.