Jeff Probyn: Was it really about driving standards or lining pockets?

New name, new trophy, new management but same old European tournament as all but the rank outsiders in their group (such as Sale) won at home in the first week of the European Rugby Champions Cup.
Yes, there was the excitement of the European games but certainly no more than we had come to expect from the old Heineken Cup, but in reality did we think it would be any different?
The old Heineken, just like the Rugby World Cup, was forced on its unwilling participants who really didn't want to take part (English clubs refused to join at first) but as with the World Cup, success changed ambition.
The Unions now fight for the right to stage the biggest money-earner the sport has ever seen as the World Cup goes from strength to strength.
The European Rugby Champions Cup is the clubs' equivalent and the clubs have now wrestled ownership of the biggest club competition from the Unions with a promise of better games and more money for all.
The fallacy that the clubs created this new competition to drive up the standard of play, making it more attractive, inclusive and competitive for all, was created to hide the fact that it was all about control.
Who would control the competition in Europe at a time when there is likely to be a major spike in public awareness of the sport because of next year's World Cup.
The gamble the Premiership took in the threat of a breakaway competition paid off, as the Unions decided it was in their own interests to concentrate on the international game and leave the clubs to manage their own affairs.
A new competition with multiple sponsors was promised – but they have yet to materialise with only Heineken signed as a title sponsor.
Despite protestations to the contrary, the main reason that the Champions Cup has yet to sign all its key sponsors is purely financial. If they had signed all before next year's World Cup it is likely that the clubs would have had to settle for substantially less money than if they wait until the World Cup hype has woven its magic.
The leaner, meaner Champions Cup may yet fulfil its promise of riches for all on and off the field but it will take time and until we have all the constituent parts functioning fully and sponsors on board we just won't know.
The RFU announcement of a new concussion management system has received support from the RPA and a number of players – and rightly so.
Concussion, although serious, is not particularly something that should worry players unduly if the right assessment and treatments are followed but if not, the long term prognosis can be devastating.
As I wrote a few months ago, the important thing is all relevant information is put in the public domain so that parents and players are fully aware of what potentially can happen and also what signs to look out for.
I must admit that although this new system seems a robust improvement on what was in place, I find it hard to understand why the RFU supported by RPA are, to quote the Press release, only ‘rolling out' the programme in the professional game?
The following is taken from that release: “The programme will be rolled out to all male registered Premiership Rugby and Championship players over 18 and contracted England Sevens players (which will cover all of the Elite Performance Senior Squad, Saxons and U20 players). In the women's game, England representative players over the age of 18 (which will also cover England U20, Elite Performance Squad and Sevens players), coaches and referees will be asked to complete the course.
“Failure to complete the 30-minute module will trigger automatic fines if the module is not completed by the required date. If a player or coach does not complete the module we have the ability to make a player or coach ineligible to play or coach until such time as they have completed it.'
Surely, if this management system is truly as ‘World Class' as it says, it should be rolled out at every club and school that play the game at any level.
Like it or not, a number of concussions happen in the school, mini and junior game, so it is vitally important this concussion management system becomes something that all players grow up with, not something that they are forced to do only when they become an adult player or coach in the elite professional game.
Rugby is not the only activity where there is a risk of concussion and it is possible, even probable, that children could suffer a concussion at school or elsewhere and come to a mini and junior session at a club without either the club or player being aware of their condition, we can only imagine all the implications that that could entail. Making the module free online would be a positive step, even if the Union have little or no way to check who has completed it and it would be free to all.
The RFU should also consider making it a compulsory section of the entry level 1 coaching courses that they run. This would ensure that all coaches at all levels of the game understand the signs and protocols needed to protect young players.
Failure to act could in the long-term be devastating and incurable for any players that suffer concussion and carry on playing no matter at what level.
Ending on a positive note with  news that the first successful reconnection/regeneration of a severed spinal cord has taken place in Poland. Whilst there is still a long way to go, there is a hope that this new treatment could help those unlucky few who have suffered a traumatic spinal injury while playing rugby – let's all keep our fingers crossed.
*This article was first published in The Rugby Paper on October 26