Welsh rugby set for radical overhaul

THE Welsh Rug

The agreement will see the creation of five provincial sides organised using the models already in place in Ireland and Scotland for European competition.

The five provincial sides for the

European stage will be Cardiff, Llanelli, and the amalgamation of Bridgend and Pontypridd, Ebbw Vale and

Newport, and Neath and Swansea.

Announcing the decision WRU director David Moffett said: "The clubs gave their unanimous support for their reorganisation in five structures."

The WRU had intended to create just four new provincial sides but was forced to increase the number to five after Llanelli took legal action to prevent itself being swallowed up. The WRU was forced to bring about change to help deal with debts of 78m.

Meanwhile, England are backing the 30-somethings in their pack to turn up trumps and provide a winning hand to silence Scottish taunts in their Calcutta Cup clash at Twickenham.

Jim Telfer, Scotland's director of rugby, indulged in some pre-match psychology by highlighting the fact that his forwards hold the advantage of youth for the RBS 6 Nations encounter.

But England coach Clive Woodward retorted: "I think the whole pack has taken on Jim Telfer's comments. I'm looking forward to seeing that the old English legs can still run around the pitch."

Telfer's bid to field a combative young pack intent on roughing up England's elder statesmen is mirrored by the selection of 6ft 7in and 19st Australian-born Nathan Hines who showed he packed a punch when he became the first Scottish player sent off in 130 years of international rugby against the USA in San Francisco last summer.

Woodward is confident England's pack with five over-30s in skipper Martin Johnson, Graham Rowntree, Lawrence Dallaglio, Neil Back and Jason Leonard, who will be winning his 101st cap, can take care of themselves.

He left it to his assistant Andy Robinson to state the case for the old hands.

Robinson said: "Age has never been a factor. If you are good enough you are old enough, whether you are at a young age or 36 or 37.

"Look at Jason Leonard and the way he has performed this year, he has played outstandingly well. Also Martin Johnson. Their fitness results are better than they have ever been. The disciplinary front has provided England's newest problem in the run-up to the likely Six Nations decider against Ireland in Dublin next weekend, but Woodward pledged his faith in Danny Grewcock, the Bath second row forward, who could be suspended by then.

Grewcock, who faces two charges of punching and one of unsportsmanlike behaviour following last week's Zurich Premiership clash with Northampton, is on the bench.

But Woodward insisted: "He can play tomorrow. I'm not thinking past that."

As England look to extend their record winning run at Twickenham to 21 matches, Woodward is aware that the one thing which could unhinge his team is complacency.

He said: "It is a big concern, tomorrow's game is a big concern so we have taken absolutely no chances at all. The record is there to be beaten so we are full of respect for the Scottish team."

Scotland coach Ian McGeechan does not need to be reminded about the task facing his side in their encounter with England.

"They are the world's number one at the moment. A lot of the results have been created at Twickenham but there is no doubt they are number one at the moment. They have great players and an excellent structure."

He said: "England showed their

potential against Italy and just what they can do.

"It is for every side to be competitive against them. You can't always do exactly what you want to do.

"One of our intentions has to be to try and make the game work the way we want it to and not England. That's the whole idea of international rugby.

"We have to be at top gear and challenge England in every quarter."

But McGeechan believes his own side have not yet shown their own true mettle this season.

Indeed, the Scotland coach insists his team are not far away from being ready to compete in the highest echelons of the game.

McGeechan said: "We were disappointed with the Irish game where, if things had been different, we could have won. But it was a game which got away from us.

"There were a lot of good things in Paris but we gave away points at the wrong time. I feel we are not far away and it is just a case of getting all the

little pieces together all the time.

"I have been striving to get us more and more competitive which I think we are. But we know we have got to do that every time we play in every facet of the game," he said.