France's rugby clubs boycott the Heineken Cup and European Challenge Cup

France's rugby clubs boycott the Heineken Cup and European Challenge Cup

France's rugby clubs will boycott the Heineken Cup and European Challenge Cup next season.

France national rugby president Serge Blanco confirmed after a meeting Thursday that the threat to boycott, first made in January, will be carried out. The clubs are upset at the growing international schedule and are seeking a greater involvement in how the European competitions are run.

English rugby clubs voted on Monday to withdraw from the competitions if the French teams boycott.

English and French clubs have won a combined nine of the 11 Heineken Cup finals Toulouse (three times), Leicester (twice), Wasps, Northampton, Bath and Brive.

Irish clubs Ulster (1999) and Munster (2006) are the only other clubs to have won the title.