Millionaire motor racing boss and Gloucester owner Tom Walkinshaw could launch a 16-team Anglo-Welsh counter-proposal to the Rugby Football Union's "Grand Plan" for the game after Twickenham bosses adopted Rob Andrew's plan for the future of rugby union.
Next season is described in the Andrew report as a "transitional year" when the average amount of money released to each club would be £1.1million, £1million of that underwritten by the RFU. That seasonal figure would rise to £2.6million by season 2004-2005, figures which compare favourably with Walkinshaw's scheme.
But Howard Thomas, chief executive of English First Division Rugby, who have campaigned for an all-encompassing British League, said it was typical of the RFU to go public with their plans less than 24 hours before another showpiece occasion for the 15-man code.
If, as expected, the Celtic unions agree to the concept of a British Cup competition for the start of next season, today's semi-finals of the Tetley's Bitter Cup will be the last in its present form.
As a major sponsor of the sport, Tetley's are likely to be angered at the RFU announcement, which will completely overshadow the double-header at Reading when Wasps, Bristol, Northampton and London Irish battle it out for a place in next month's final.
"The timing of this announcement is dreadful. It reflects a complete lack of understanding about what is required to run a professional game," said Thomas.
"Once again the RFU have managed to take the headlines away from a sponsor. Rather than the answer to the current problems, what has been done is just an example of why we need professional people to run the sport.
"There are some people for whom politics seems to be far more important than rugby."
Despite this, EFDR will still consider the proposals at a meeting early next week and the indications are that the Celtic unions will greet the announcement with some enthusiasm.
Scottish Rugby Union spokesman Graham Law said: "We would welcome the opportunity to discuss the proposals with the Rugby Football Union at the earliest possible opportunity."
However, the SRU's stated aim is the formation of a fully-fledged British League. And while this is not likely to be instigated in the foreseeable future, a British Cup and a fully integrated Celtic League, which the RFU proposals allow for, could be the best way forward.