WRU chief executive David Moffett faces a fight to keep hold of his best players © Getty Images

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The restructuring of the Welsh professional game into five regions was intended to save the domestic game in Wales and create the opportunity for the Welsh players to reach the pinnacle of the game in Europe.

It looks like some of those players will be within touching distance of that pinnacle next season - by joining some of the top teams in France and England rather than staying with the Welsh regions.

"France are artificially inflating the transfer market. I will make my concerns known to the French Union, but I'm not sure if they can do anything to stop it," claims Welsh Rugby Union chief David Moffett. He argues that the French clubs, and to a certain extend the English, can simply buy any player they want. "It could end up like football's Premiership, where only two or three teams can compete," Moffett said. "It's not just Wales. If France target, say, Brian O'Driscoll they'll get him because they have the financial muscle."

But would they? Of course the lack of a French salary cap makes it easy for representatives of the French clubs to talk telephone numbers but part of the problem is of the Welsh Unions own making. They may have modelled their regional sides on the Irish Provinces but at no stage over the last year have the Welsh sides looked anywhere nearly as settled as the historically secure Irish provinces. "Regional funding from the WRU is down to £7m next year and our share will be about £1.2m," claims Llanelli Scarlets boss Stuart Gallacher. "Zurich Premiership clubs get £2.4m from their union. How are we expected to be competitive in the Heineken Cup when we have one hand tied behind our back?"

But was Gallacher's Llanelli not part of the reason that hand is tied?

Clearly the principality can not support five sides - and the available cash is spread too thinly in supporting the present group of players. The Union were always keen that their master plan would see only four regions but, early last year it was Llanelli who were one of the agitators in creating a five, rather than four,team system. Moffett would still urge the four team set up - with no Welsh teams in the Parker Pen Competitions. "It would help if Wales only had four regions as that is all we have the players and finances to sustain," claims Moffett.

The Irish Provinces remain under the full control of the IRFU and therefore the likes of Brian O'Driscoll are under no pressure from their clubs. It's Eddie O'Sullivan's call whether the provinces can or cannot play their stars. O'Driscoll wouldn't have the same luxury if he were at Toulouse.

You only need to look at the disagreement between the European Champions and the French Federation over Jean-Baptiste Elissalde - who was injured on test duty and ruled out of the reminder of the domestic season - to see how a relationship between club and country can breakdown.

The Welsh may have strived for the harmonious Irish style relationship but have failed to achieve. The influence of 'benefactors' such as Leighton Samuel who can at a whim withdraw their financial support from the side has done little to help the WRU build a harmonious relationship with the players.

So although the regionalisation of the game last summer was supposed to put the Welsh house in order the problems still prevail. It is hard to see how the Welsh can fight off the lure of the French and English clubs, until they can create the ideal structure which will give the players the incentive to stay at home.