WRU expect end to Euro boycott

Welsh Rugby Union group chief executive Roger Lewis believes "common sense" will have prevailed if - as expected - the Anglo-French boycott of the Heineken Cup is lifted on Tuesday.

A European Rugby Cup meeting is being held when it is expected to be announced that Europe's flagship club competition will go ahead in its current format.

"We're making progress. I was across in Dublin last week and will be back this week. The noises are very encouraging indeed," Lewis told BBC Sport Wales. "The key thing is that people have sat down and discussed the real issues."

The English and French clubs announced last month they would boycott the competition because of a dispute over voting and shareholding rights.

Any Anglo-French withdrawal would have serious ramifications for the Celtic nations who rely heavily on the revenue generated by the Heineken Cup.

But significant progress has been made in behind-the-scenes negotiations and European competition is expected to resume next season.

Lewis predicts significant strides will be made during the meeting in Dublin.

He added: "Syd Millar of the International Rugby Board was pivotal - he's knocked a few heads together and got some common sense going, while the Celtic nations have also helped to encourage dialogue.

"The expectation is that we can move forward in the meeting, but there's many a slip between cup and lip and a lot more talking to be done."