A subscriber scrum for Irish rugby

A battle between BT and Sky for broadband and sports subscribers is leaving Irish rugby financially exposed, writes Emmet Ryan.

Munster vs Leinster in the RaboDirect Pro12: the decisions by the English and French rugby unions to exit the Heineken Cup has put the European competition under threat. Photo: INPHO

Ireland's provincial rugby teams were taken by surprise this week when Premiership Rugby, the governing body of top-level club rugby in England, and it's French counterpart, the Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR), reaffirmed their commitment to press ahead with plans to leave the Heineken Cup.

At the heart of the dispute is a desire from both bodies to have a greater slice of control and TV money from the deal. The battle here, ...