THE Scottish, Welsh, Irish, French and Italian rugby unions have declared that the European Cup will go ahead next season under the existing European Rugby Cup auspices – but it remains unclear what clubs or regions will take part in it.

The five unions - Welsh, Scottish, Irish, French and Italian - say they stand "side by side" in driving a European club competition next season following talks in Dublin on Thursday.

They released a statement to that effect, but there is no indication at this stage of the standpoints of French clubs and Welsh regions, who have already announced they want to be with England's 12 Aviva Premiership clubs in a new Rugby Champions' Cup next term.

Premiership Rugby, the umbrella organisation for the leading English clubs, has consistently said it no longer recognises ERC and will not participate in competitions under its jurisdiction.

In their statement, the five unions - minus the Rugby Football Union - said they had agreed the following.

"A European club competition is to take place during the 2014/2015 season following an optimised sporting and economic format with 20 teams, no matter how many countries are involved.

"The competition will be driven by the existing organisation (currently named ERC) which will remain in charge of the centralised sale and management of all commercial rights, amongst other things.

"Discussions over governance will be pursued in order to optimise the internal functioning of the existing organisation (currently named ERC).

"The common aim is to move eventually towards the integration of European competitions within an all-encompassing European rugby framework."

The comments are unlikely to set alarm bells ringing at Premiership Rugby, though.

They announced plans for a Rugby Champions Cup in September, a joint enterprise by the Premiership clubs and France's Top 14 under the Ligue Nationale du Rugby banner.

The four Welsh regions - Cardiff Blues, Ospreys, Newport Gwent Dragons and Scarlets - subsequently announced that they wanted to join the Anglo-French model.

There is no indication in the unions' statement tonight which clubs would participate in a union-run European competition.

Premiership Rugby responded to the unions' position by reconfirming their intent to launch the Rugby Champions Cup.

"Premiership Rugby notes the statement issued this evening concerning the proposed new European club rugby competitions for the 2014/15 season," read a statement released by Premiership Rugby.

"There is no detail concerning the teams involved or the competition format given the absence of so many teams.

"The English and French clubs served notice on ERC and its competitions on 1st June 2012 and the required notice period concludes after the end of this season when the Accord will terminate.

"Today's announcement would appear to indicate that the latest negotiations have been ended, as was the case in September 2013.

"As a result, we shall continue to implement the plans under way for the Rugby Champions Cup with the declared participants in time for the 2014-15 season."