While I think this is posturing from the FIR to get a better deal from Celtic rugby Ltd I do think that the alternative which is threatened in the piece is the best solution for both parties assuming the welsh strike a deal. Things have gone very quiet over there ATM apart from a PR statement from RRW yesterday reaffirming commitment to RCC which we know can't exist now.

My reasons for believing that Pro12 returning to the Celtic league is better for all concerned are
1. League is hugely affected by autumn internationals and 6ns windows. An example of this is clubs like zebre, Treviso and Edinburgh who are bottom half of table have AFAIK 9, 15 and 11 players respectively called up to 6ns squads this week. I know some will be released again but it impacts match prep , selection etc. This season the 2 international windows affect 9 games which is a significant part of the season. A reduction of games from 22 to 18 would almost half the impact on the league.
2. Italian rugby at region and club rugby is struggling ATM. According to the article participation in league costs ave of 11m pa. Their teams are bottom 3 in league and whipping boys of amlin and Heineken. There is no support for zebre and very little remaining for domestic league. The air oni / zebre experiments have been costly failures in every respect and have provided the PRL significant ammunition to attack pro12 with re Heineken cup qualification.

Far better for all sides IMO for FIR to use money to centrally contract best 25- 30 players and for them to play for clubs in domestic league and come together under the name of zebre for the 1 Italian he spot similar to Bucharest wolves in amlin and original way Irish provinces did pre Celtic league.
Celtic league with 6 hec spots decided on merit would be much better also.

seems like the Italians are on the verge of pulling out of the PRO12..

www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/art...l-Treviso-Zebre.html

Bill Beaumont of RFU released a statement in response to IRB statement this evening.

There is a lot of waffle about continuing to work with other unions etc but the final paragraph was significant.
He stated that the RFU remained committed to the IRB and would at all times adhere to IRB regulations.

So as WRU will never sanction an Anglo welsh league then neither will the RFU. Ditto the RCC unless all other unions also do.

rossie wrote: RRW have signed an agreement with PRL regarding RCC so will not under any circumstance compete in ERC tournament.

Like the LNR did? Oh, wait... :evil:

rossie wrote:

clanman wrote: dragons fans won't be pleased that they have been omitted especially considering the progress they have made over the last 2 years

Missed that. Chiefs in welsh conference. Aren't they on south coast of England!

South West (Devon) straight line down from Bath & Bristol...

clanman wrote: dragons fans won't be pleased that they have been omitted especially considering the progress they have made over the last 2 years

Missed that. Chiefs in welsh conference. Aren't they on south coast of England!

Sol_ie wrote: This could apply to the Pro12 or to the HC, but the IRB has put out a Statement stating that they will not allow a competition not backed by member unions: www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/irb-give-...an-impasse-1.1648380

Death knell for the expanded Aviva and RCC (as long as the WRU remains opposed to both of these)? Or could the welsh regions and the premiership clubs breakaway from the IRB? Madness?

Its as if PRL/ Paul Rees have a leak on the union/irb side. Every time there is a significant statement on union side or in this case irb he releases article in guardian undermining it or promoting prl.

This time he reveals that RRW have signed an agreement with PRL regarding RCC so will not under any circumstance compete in ERC tournament.

Seapoint- I presume tap and go are a fans blog? They seem to have left out Exeter and Worcester/ promoted club?

dragons fans won't be pleased that they have been omitted especially considering the progress they have made over the last 2 years

The attached just tweeted by @Tap&GoRugby as their proposal for a B&I League..

tapandgorugby.com/2014/01/07/drop-goal-british-irish-league/

This could apply to the Pro12 or to the HC, but the IRB has put out a Statement stating that they will not allow a competition not backed by member unions: www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/irb-give-...an-impasse-1.1648380

Death knell for the expanded Aviva and RCC (as long as the WRU remains opposed to both of these)? Or could the welsh regions and the premiership clubs breakaway from the IRB? Madness?

WRU reply is up on their website. Even stronger imo. It refers to IRB rules re crossborder competitions, reaffirms commitment to erc and pro12 and cionfirms its intention to honour those commitments with partners who havevthe good ofall welsh rugby at heart. Goes on to state that RRW decision leaves them free to pursue those options tomorow.

This is not good for the pro12 or the heineken cup.

Just read it there, thks.
It reads as if they are very confident in their position regarding their participation in the Aviva.
its a gun to the head job. Back the RCC under 6ns governance or we are off to england.

Statement out from the RRW. pretty hard hitting it seems. www.cardiffblues.com/news/6717.php#.UsL-f9JdXqE

Neath is flagged as the west valleys region by the wru. Cardiff and Llanelli are shareholders of their regions so could presumably play in the aviva a league but ospreys are wholly owned by a holding company of their investors.
in any case I wouldn't believe the hype, there's all sorts of stuff going in here that's nothing to do with Wales, such as a certain premiership chairman trying to divest himself of his shareholding.

But Llanelli own a significant percentage of the scarlets so I assume will have to leave with them. The same applies to Neath and Swansea who own ospreys between them, Cardiff and Newport.

Therefore if wru are to link new regions to clubs it will have to be outside of the traditional big 5. Pontypridd has been flagged as the east valleys team but its difficult to find one in west Wales unless the wru try to mend bridges in Bridgend after the Celtic warriors debacle. They already have a region in Colwyn bay north Wales but they were hammered by ebbw vale the other day so where will the players come from?

rossie wrote: We have seen with aironi and zebre the problems.s that arise with creating teams out of thin air.

Not exactly the same as Aironi/Zebre. We saw what Llanelli did to our Eagles in October.