European champions versus Super Rugby winners under discussion

Talks are ongoing to stage a World Club Challenge-style game between the winners of the European Rugby Champions Cup and the Super Rugby champions.

The move would be ground-breaking for rugby union as never before have the winners of planet's two premier club competitions faced each other to determine who is the best in the world, though it happens each year in rugby league.

European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) is in discussions with SANZAR, which organises the southern hemisphere's Super Rugby competition, with a view to drawing up a joint proposal regarding the match.  

One stumbling block to such a game would be when to stage it as teams in the southern hemisphere typically conclude their season much later than their European counterparts.

This season's Super Rugby final is scheduled to take place on August 6 while the European Rugby Champions Cup showpiece is set for May 14.

The EPCR said in a statement: "Following reports in some sections of the media, EPCR can confirm that it is actively formulating a strategy on how best to organise and market a match in the future between the winners of the European Rugby Champions Cup and the winners of the Super Rugby competition.

"As EPCR continues to develop the concept, it has to not least ensure that any such match would be incorporated into the global season at the appropriate time and that it would also involve full-strength squads from both competing clubs to reflect the elite nature of the Champions Cup and Super Rugby tournaments.

"To that end, EPCR is in discussions with SANZAR, which runs the Super Rugby competition, with a view to working on a joint proposal regarding the match.

"With planning at an early stage, EPCR will be making no further comment until it is in a position to do so at a future date."

If the game was staged this season, it would see three-time European winners Toulon, of France, taking on reigning Super Rugby champions the Highlanders, of New Zealand.