Negotiations have been taking place to try and head off the planned boycott of the tournament by French and English clubs over a dispute around shares in the European Rugby Cup (ERC) and the fact that the English Premiership clubs have not been given a shareholding in the competition.
A deal is believed to have been brokered that will see the competition continue in its current format, with the leading English and French clubs.
Syd Millar, chairman of the International Rugby Board, is believed to have played a pivotal role in discussions and there is cautious optimism that a meeting today will result in agreement being signed to secure the long-term future of the competition.
