The plans to shake up the game in Wales have been thrown into chaos by the decision of Bridgend and Neath merge to form their own super club for next season.

Plans to condense the top flight in Wales to five Super Clubs based around Llanelli, Swansea, Pontypridd, Cardiff and Newport had originally involved Neath and Bridgend being swallowed up by their neighbours.

But The Western Mail reports that in a shrewd move to secure their future Neath and Bridgend have jumped the gun and got their acts together.

Each club will continue to exist separately at second tier level, while neither's status can threaten to consume the other.

That would not have been the case under plans that would have seen Pontypridd swallow up Bridgend and Swansea do likewise to Neath.

Swansea may now be forced to join forces with Llanelli - a move niether club would relish.

Similarly, Pontypridd may see their future eclipsed by that of capital club Cardiff.

Llanelli chief executive Stuart Gallcher issued a furious response last night

Gallacher questioned the role the Welsh Rugby Union - as owners of Neath RFC through holding company Gowerpark Limited - had to play in the announcement, and has asked for the matter to be immediately referred to the WRU's newly-appointed group chief executive David Moffett.

Gallacher said, "How can a club owned by the union possibly dictate the future of Welsh rugby under a provincial structure and, furthermore, unilaterally declare its own province to boot?

"This makes a total mockery not only of David Moffett's appointment, but also of the union's role in attempting to pave the way for the future of Welsh rugby.

"It has been widely reported that Glanmor Griffiths and David Moffett were informed of the news by Neath and Bridgend last week.

"Both Dennis Gethin and Glanmor Griffiths are officers of Gower-park Limited, the company that owns Neath RFC, and the company's registered address is care of WRU secretary Dennis Gethin at the WRU's offices in Cardiff.

"Neath RFC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the WRU, its officers are WRU officers so somebody at the WRU must have approved this.

"We are now seeing, very publicly, the way Welsh rugby operates at its worst. This is a loose cannon approach at a time when the game needs a considered and well thought through, consensus-based approach to the future of rugby in Wales.

"This whole issue must be referred immediately to WRU group chief executive David Moffett before matters get further out of hand."

Pontypridd chief executive Gareth Thomas endorsed Gallacher's sentiments and also expressed his disappointment at the timing of Bridgend and Neath's announcement.

"All Bridgend and Neath have done is made an announcement saying, We will do this and that" if there certain things are to happen in Welsh rugby," said Thomas, a premier clubs' member of the WRU joint management board attempting to formulate plans for the game's future.

"We are trying to ensure that if there is a reduction in premier team numbers, there will be a Celtic League in which they can play.

"It would not be fair for that reduction to take place otherwise. "Talks are on-going in that respect and I'm disappointed that Bridgend and Neath have made their announcement before the WRU joint management board dialogue over the game's future has been concluded.

"We are all fearful of the future but, as Wales coach Steve Hansen has said, we all want to go to heaven, but none of us want to die."

A WRU spokesman said, "Moffett, the group chief executive of the WRU, would like to point out that he is meeting with Stuart Gallacher on Wednesday to discuss the issue of reorganisation of the professional club scene in Wales.

"Mr Moffett will not be debating the different viewpoints via the media. Once there is concrete news to report from both sides it will be passed through the proper channels."

Bridgend owner Leighton Samuel last night defended his club's proposed merger with Neath.

"If the Gang of Five think they can have their way over everything, they can think again."

He added, "There are conditions to our proposed merger with Neath. Firstly, if Welsh rugby reduces to six teams at top level, it won't happen and we will attempt to remain separate entities.

"But if there are to be five or four teams, we will merge.

"We have been getting nowhere in premier club meetings. Everyone has been talking around what needs to be done and avoiding the real issues.

"That is why we have decided to propose a merger with Neath in the event of a reduction to five teams.

"We met Glanmor Griffiths and David Moffett last week and they said our proposals were acceptable.

"Nothing has been happening in the management board meetings between the WRU and representatives of the premier clubs.

"There has been next to no progress and it has been the same in meetings of the premier clubs. There has been enough talk.

"If nothing else, the decision for Neath and Bridgend to come together has started a debate.

"But I think it has also told Llanelli, Swansea, Pontypridd, Cardiff and Newport that they can't just have their way.

"We do not want to lose our identity by being swallowed up by Pontypridd, and Neath feel the same about joining with Swansea.

"I have invested a huge amount of money in Bridgend and we have not had any great success.