David Moffett, the former WRU chief executive, has succeeded in his goal of forcing the board into holding an extraordinary general meeting.

While the main subject is the proposed league restructuring, Moffett has a greater goal - forcing some senior officials to resign and returning to the board himself.

Moffett has been staging a remorseless campaign against the executive for a number of months and ihas constantly lambasted and questioned the WRU hierarchy; they, in turn, have largely ignored him while reiterating that their own track record speaks for itself. But now it has been forced to face the disgruntled elements of its membership.

The WRU confirmed it had received 43 written applications from clubs and regions and said that it would move to hold the meeting as soon as possible.

"We are at the end of May and the clubs don't even know who they're playing next season," Moffett said. "Clubs have found a voice and they're going to send a very strong message to the WRU.

"It's a sad day, not a day for rejoicing. The fact that the clubs have called an EGM is a wake-up call. The WRU will know it has to answer to the clubs. It's quite clear to me that the clubs have had enough.

"The single issue that has brought this to a head is the league structure. The WRU are like rabbits in the headlights. It will be held to account."

A statement from the board said it "welcomed the opportunity to address the issues raised by the clubs through an open and well informed debate. The proposed league restructure appears to be the primary issue in the nomination letters. The WRU is determined to provide all the information the 43 member clubs require within the EGM forum."

The meeting is likely to be a feisty one. Moffett has capitalised on deep-seated frustration - and at times anger - with many clubs at the way the WRU has dealt with them. His own manner has been openly confrontational and personal, but he appears to have found a good degree of grassroot support.