England’s Premiership rugby clubs confirmed on Thursday they would not take part in next season’s European Cup.

Representatives of all 12 Premiership clubs met in London following last week’s dramatic decision by France’s Top 14 sides to pull out of the proposed Anglo-French breakaway Rugby Champions Cup following pressure from the French Rugby Federation (FFR).

Premiership Rugby, the umbrella group for England’s leading clubs, has long insisted it will no longer have anything to do with tournaments run by current organisers European Rugby Cup (ERC), who also oversees the second-tier European Challenge Cup, and after Thursday’s meeting it said it was “pursuing other options”.

“ERC does not structurally recognise the role of the leagues and clubs in driving the success of club competitions, under the overall governance of (national) Unions,” a statement released by Premiership Rugby said.

“The ERC voting structure is controlled by Unions even though the majority of commercial value is created by the independent clubs which represent 75 percent of the participants.

“Proposals put forward to address a new structure within a Rugby Champions Cup were agreed by a majority of the unions in October, alongside meritocratic competition formats and equitable financial distributions.

“However, these have not been accepted by all.

“The English clubs have worked exhaustively over the last 18 months to propose solutions to the issues with the current European competitions and to provide a sustainable platform to grow the game in the various countries.

“The English clubs are now pursuing other options.”

It remains to be seen what effect the English boycott will have on French clubs’ involvement on next season’s European Cup.

There have been reports in the British press suggesting PRL have put out feelers to South African clubs about a new competition.

However, if there is no new tournament for PRL clubs to play in next season, it may mean players are fresher and less exposed to the risk of injury ahead of the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England.

English clubs last boycotted European competition in the 1998/99 over dispute about how the tournament was then run before returning to the fold.

English and French clubs have long complained that Celtic League sides have an unfair advantage in European competition as most of them are guaranteed entry, whereas Premiership and Top 14 teams have to fight hard just to qualify.

The current dispute has also been complicated by a row over broadcast rights.