It seems that final agreement is close on the composition of an all-encompassing Celtic league for next season. The competition, which would involve 14 teams, was approved by the WRU General Committee this week and discussions are now taking place with the Scottish and Irish Unions.

The Welsh have proposed a competition featuring eight Welsh clubs, four Irish provinces and the two Scottish districts with the 14 sides split into two conferences and all games played in the period up to Christmas.

However a spokesman for the IRFU told Scrum that discussions were " far from complete" and it would seem that the WRU's claim that the competition would start on 25th August next year is a little premature.

WRU secretary Dennis Gethin said, "The proposed structure should offer the required level of competition in the early part of the season. The Celtic league sits nicely with the build-up to the European Cup and the autumn international programme. The competition has tremendous commercial potential and I am sure it will be of huge interest to broadcasters."

Michael Reid, Chief Executive of Irish Province Ulster gave the idea a guarded welcome when he spoke with Scrum, but stressed that any competition would need to take account of the IRFU's desire to limit the number of games played by their contracted players.

With only eight Welsh clubs set to be involved there would be a need for two to be cut from the top flight this season, and none promoted from the Welsh National League. However Neath captain, Gareth Llewellyn, who has recently returned to Wales from Harlequins, believes that it is a step in the right direction. "Anything that can improve the overall standard of club rugby in Wales has to be the way forward," he said.