Welsh clubs in new plan

Welsh  rugby's bitter dispute about the future of its professional game appears to be heading towards a conclusion.

Welsh Rugby Union group chief executive David Moffett lastnight claimed that the "clock was ticking" following months of often heated debate.

Moffett's masterplan is for four provincial teams to represent Wales in next season's Heineken European Cup and Celtic League competitions. Up until last evening, that was the only realistic proposal on the table.

But Wales's top clubs, who have vigorously opposed Moffett's scheme, have now unanimously agreed their own blueprint for the future. Moffett and his colleagues will now spend the next few days discussing in detail the club's proposal.

The WRU's decision-making general committee will meet next Thursday, at which they are set to decide which proposal will go forward to an extraordinary general meeting of Wales's 239 member clubs on February 23rd.

That crunch meeting will take place just 24 hours after Wales tackle England in the Six Nations Championship and, in terms of Welsh rugby's future, there can be little doubt about which is the more important event.

"The clock is ticking - we have put a line in the sand," said Moffett, following a three-hour meeting of the general committee last night in Cardiff.

"This time next week, we intend to put a recommendation to the general committee.

"Today is the first time that the clubs have come back to us with a unanimous view about a way forward, and we have always said that we would be prepared to listen to another option.

"We have been unable to have a full discussion with the general committee today, but we were able to give them an outline of the club's proposal," Moffett added.

There is still much talking to be done, but last night's announcement of clear target dates suggests that an end is in sight.