Bristol have served former coach Bob Dwyer with a writ in the latest development of the ongoing legal row between the west country club, the former Australian coach and former South African fly-half Joel Stransky.

The Daily Mail reports that Dwyer was served with a writ during a training session in his role as Barbarians coach before last week's match against Australia at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.

Stransky launched the £250,000 legal battle with Dwyer in March for an alleged breach of contract during the Australian's spell as director of rugby at Bristol.

The row originates 18 months ago when Stransky claims Dwyer offered him a job worth more than £100,000-a-year as the club's backs coach and that in June last year he was introduced as such to the players.

Bristol later issued a statement formally denying that Stransky had been offered any contract and that there were 'no plans for him to join the coaching staff'.

Dwyer then left the club to take up a coaching appointment with New South Wales in his native Sydney after an internal power struggle left Bristol's former England back row forward Dean Ryan in charge of the coaching team.

A Bristol spokesman told the newspaper, "This is all very embarrassing, but we had no option other than to serve a writ on Bob alleging negligence on his part. Originally, Bob wanted to employ Stransky as a player-coach, but he could not do that because Stransky had already claimed for a permanent disability pension payout after finishing his playing career at Leicester through injury.

"Besides, we already had a player-coach in Dean Ryan, so we did not need another one. Stransky's work permit was running out and the RFU told us that it would not be renewed. We told Bob not to offer Stransky any contract."

The spokesman claimed Dwyer was told, "You can't do this." 'But Bob went ahead and did it. As a result, he was suspended by the club and then, shortly afterwards, he left. He has to be accountable, which is why we have taken this action.'

Dwyer is said to have been 'shocked and annoyed' at being confronted by Bristol's legal representatives.