The EPCR has moved to deny speculation that the futures of the Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup are under threat.
French Rugby Federation president Bernard Laporte has championed a Club World Cup that would form part of a dramatic overhaul of rugby's club calendar.
But, while the EPCR have told this evening that talks are ongoing over a potential Club World Cup, it won't be done in place of either the Heineken Champions Cup or the Challenge Cup.
Instead the new global tournament - which it has been reported would involve 20 teams from around the world - would take place every four years akin to the international rugby version.
A statement read this evening: "EPCR has noted today’s media reports regarding a proposal for an annual Club World Cup.
"Discussions have already taken place on an official level between EPCR and its shareholders regarding a global club tournament which could complement the Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup and which could take place once every four years. Work on possible formats is ongoing with a collaborative approach and issues of player welfare to the fore.
"EPCR does not believe it appropriate to highlight such discussions while the public health crisis due to COVID-19 continues, and currently, the organisation’s focus is on attempting to reschedule the knockout stages of the 2019/20 tournaments subject to government and local authority directives."
Laporte, who is looking to be elected World Rugby vice-chairman in the governing body's vote next month, believes the new tournament would generate much-needed revenue for clubs that have taken a hit from the coronavirus pandemic.
"This crisis must push us to be innovative. Let's make this new competition, I'm sure that the public, partners and televisions will follow," Laporte was quoted as saying by French newspaper Midi Olympique.
"I've been working with Bill Beaumont on the restructuring of the international calendar in order to standardise the windows reserved for national teams.
"And, in fact, create a new window dedicated to clubs, which would allow the creation of a new international competition: the Club World Cup."
