This week, talks have once again taken place over the future complexion of European club rugby.
Few, except those with vested interests in retaining the status quo, would argue that the current qualification arrangements are either fair or acceptable.
Bath chairman Bruce Craig – who is also the deputy chairman of Premiership Rugby, the umbrella group that represents the top English clubs – is understood to be playing a central role in the negotiations.
And, from a West Country perspective, it's great for Bath to have a vocal, articulate owner who is prepared to pipe up.
Much has been made of how the Scottish, Welsh and Irish clubs enjoy all but guaranteed qualification to the Heineken Cup, while English and French sides have to slug it out and finish in the top six of the Premiership and Top 14 respectively if they are to enjoy top-flight European rugby.
No doubt the Celtic nations' generous pathway to regular Heineken Cup rugby will continue to be high on the agenda. But what of Italian rugby's guaranteed two slots in the Heineken? And what of Italian club involvement in European rugby more generally?
The accepted wisdom – which has gained some support by some excellent wins in the Six Nations by the Italian national team – is that rugby is a growing sport in Italy and that the best way to ensure it continues to grow is to give clubs guaranteed exposure on the big stage.
Unfortunately, all the evidence is that Italian franchises and clubs just aren't cutting the mustard or improving sufficiently – and that Italian teams are hogging prized European spots that should go to clubs from other countries which have earned the right.
The two Italian franchises with guaranteed spots in the Heineken Cup, Treviso and Zebre, are point-less in this year's competition so far, having conceded 218 points between them after three rounds.
In fairness, Treviso have shown some flashes of quality in both the Heineken and Pro12 in the past couple of season, so a case could – at a stretch – be made for their inclusion. Zebre's inclusion is far harder to justify.
The club was effectively conjured out of thin air over the summer after Aironi, the previous Italian venture to have an assured Heineken spot, hit financial trouble.
It is a side yet to prove itself, yet it walked into a Heineken spot at the expense of the likes of Gloucester, Perpignan and Bath.
Elsewhere, in this season's Amlin Cup, Rovigo, Mogliano, Calvisano and Cavalieri have all failed to win a match between them.
Italian club rugby is being whipped and embarrassed in whichever direction you look.
This current arrangement does European club rugby no favours and helps no one, least of all the Italians themselves.
