Wales Rugby Union and clubs agree funding for five clubs

THE leading clubs in Wales and the Welsh Rug

Club officials met with Welsh Rugby Union group chief executive David Moffett yesterday when the funding issue was resolved.

A total of £7.5m is set to be shared between the five new professional teams Cardiff, Llanelli and combined Newport/Ebbw Vale, Bridgend/ Pontypridd and Neath/Swansea sides next season.

The clubs initially wanted £8m, which caused the latest impasse in a seemingly endless dispute.

But yesterday's meeting finally thrashed out an amicable conclusion, and a plan agreed by the premier clubs and WRU will now be represented to European Rugby Cup (ERC) chiefs tomorrow.

The five sides are due to represent Wales in next season's Heineken Cup and Parker Pen Challenge Cup competitions, which ERC oversees, plus the Celtic League.

A five-team regional structure had already been agreed for next term,

but not an acceptable level of funding.

Had yesterday's decision not been reached it appeared as though Wales would have remained with nine clubs next season a potentially destructive situation given that only £4.62m was to be made available between them and some clubs are already experiencing cash problems.

Swansea are in temporary administration, and there were fears that top players would have moved away from Wales to safeguard their futures had the situation not been resolved.

The five regions will be underpinned by a 16-team semi- professional league to be funded to the tune of £800,000 by the WRU.