Fears of a strike by Wales' top players in support of their demands for a better deal from the Welsh Rugby Union have been played down by club owners.

The top six Welsh clubs were reportedly threatening to ban their players from the Twickenham match with England on March 23, which could leave Wales Wales without 13 of the team that started against Italy last Saturday.

If the six - Cardiff, Llanelli, Bridgend, Swansea, Newport and Pontypridd - were to urge their players to strike they would be defying International Board rules,

However, four leading figures from the socalled Gang of Six say there is no prospect of a strike taking place.

Bridgend owner Leighton Samuel, Newport counterpart Tony Brown, Pontypridd chief executive Gareth Thomas and Swansea chairman Robert Davies rubbished reports that they would tell their players to turn their backs on the national team.

Samuel told the Western Mail, "I hope there isn't a strike - I've got tickets for the game."

He added, "I can't see the problems we have with the Welsh Rugby Union reaching the stage of a strike.

"There are enough meetings going on this week to sort out the issues in question. But we have been talking about these things since October and nothing has yet been done."

Brown said, "I have been a bit out of touch with events in Welsh rugby for a short while because I have been away.

"But I don't think clubs such as ourselves can withdraw players from international rugby. That would be against International Rugby Board regulations."

Swansea chairman Davies said, "I don't think talk of a strike is realistic."

Pontypridd chief executive Thomas said, "I am not aware of any alleged strike threat involving clubs withdrawing their players from the Wales team. The reports I have heard about are pure speculation."

It is thought the reported strike threat was a timely effort with a series of high-level meetings taking place this week that could determine the future structure of Welsh rugby.