A Solution Can Be Found - ERC's Derek McGrath

European Rugby Cup Chief Executive Derek McGrath remains adamant that a solution to the current dispute over the future of European rugby can still be found.

The launch of the 2013-14 Heineken Cup in Cardiff - where this season's final will also be held - was dominated by questions about what lies ahead for European rugby.

But McGrath remains confident that the dispute will eventually be resolved.

"The best outcome for everybody is around the table at ERC, to find the best for everyone and there are a lot of concerns and clubs in particular have a lot of extra needs that they believe need to be respected and they're all valid but let's get them on the table and find solutions," McGrath said.

"Nobody's going to get everything, everybody has to come with a point of view of concession as well as being able to substantiate and justify why they believe that things should change but I believe that spirit is there and I believe solutions can be found."

Meanwhile, Leicester and England fly-half Toby Flood, who made his first competitive start of the season last weekend, believes that forcing teams to qualify for European competition is absolutely crucial.

"I mean everyone's got an opinion haven't they? Whether it's worth something is slightly different," he said.

"Mine probably isn't but I know for us probably the qualification thing is, for all players I think, is imperative.

"We have to go week-in, week-out and make sure we finish top six to get in there and that's the big thing for us you know. You'd expect the Munsters, the Leinsters and all those guys to qualify because they're outstanding teams.

"If theoretically there was a way those guys could maybe not make it then it would mean they'd have to play their players a bit more and funnily enough it would probably make the Rabobank a better league because they'd have to be in there week-in, week-out but that's the only thing.

"Financials, all those sorts of things, connotations, gates and everything, there's nothing we can do about that but I think making it competitive, making it hard to get into is important for us."

Video courtesy of SNTV