Blues chief says Welsh peace deal unlikely as New Year deadline passes

Cardiff Blues chief executive Richard Holland does not hold out much hope of a peace deal with the Welsh Rugby Union after the deadline of agreement for next season and beyond passed along with the New Year bells.

He said that the regions were committed to Plan A, which has been offered to the WRU, of continuing to play in a Celtic competition along the lines of the current RaboDirect PRO12, as well as a Rugby Champions Cup with the English clubs which could also include the Irish and the Scots.

Plan B is a breakaway league between the Welsh and English clubs, with all the potential governance and legal problems that would involve.