Cup to go ahead regardless

18 September 2014European rugby bosses are yet to sign off any main-partner deals, just four weeks before the replacement for the Heineken Cup gets underway.

Premiership Rugby chief executive Mark McCafferty, instrumental in helping form Europe's new set-up, said not all five main partner deals will be complete when the competition kicks off on October 17.

Governing body European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) is thought to be unfazed about entering the new era with deals still to be done thanks to record TV revenues that form the competition's financial bedrock.

"The highe…