by Paul Cook - Europe’s premier club competition, the Heineken Cup, kicked off it’s 19th year of existence last night as the cream of the English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh, French and Italian games renewed hostilities in search of the continent’s ultimate prize. However, they did so under the blackest of clouds as this also promises to be the 19th and final year of the competition’s existence if plans of a breakaway tournament orchestrated by the English and French contingent prove to be more than mere sabre rattling. The Anglo-French alliance are unhappy with the current qualifying format that sees a minimum of ten of the twelve teams that compete in the Pro 12 competition (comprising sides from Ireland, Wales, Scotland and Italy) qualify automatically while only the top six teams in the Premiership in England and the Top 14 in France are eligible, pendin