A drive to greater meritocracy to enable a tweaked format to take the pressure of the logistical complications is the short-term solution.
By setting the bar higher to first qualify for the Champions Cup and to then progress to the knock-out stages would drive standards and prevent teams sending understrength sides.
There is already a plan to reduce the number of clubs in the Champions Cup to 18 which has only been moth-balled because of a lack of agreement on the number of clubs each league will provide.
The Premiership, despite being reduced to 10 clubs, has held firm on its demand for an equal three-way split of six from each league. The Top 14 and URC point out that with 14 and 16 clubs respectively, a 5-6-7 would be more reflective.
A compromise of a ‘coefficient calculation’ that could see the number of representatives from each league adjusted every two years depending on the collective performances in the Champions Cup has yet to break the deadlock.