THE four Welsh regions are back in next season's Celtic League, after complex negotiations were finally resolved late last night.

A huge sigh of relief could be heard around the principality after the Scottish and Irish rugby unions reached agreement with their Welsh counterparts over a future structure for the Celtic League.

Wales were expelled from the competition in acrimonious circumstances on May 31 after joining a new Anglo-Welsh Cup competition.

The Anglo-Welsh Cup was designed to replace the Powergen Cup in the English domestic calendar but its creation required Welsh clubs being free of Celtic League fixtures for five weekends of the season.

This was objected to by Scotland and Ireland but the Welsh Rugby Union insisted they remained full committed to the Celtic League and agreement was reached at a summit meeting at Heathrow Airport last night.

Newport Gwent Dragons director Martyn Hazell told of his relief after hearing that the Celtic League is back on for the Gwent region.

Hazell forecast that professional rugby would perish in all three Celtic nations after the Irish and Scots were angered by Wales climbing into bed with the English Rugby Football Union for the cup.

But, after a statement saying that the Anglo-Welsh tournament would be incorporated into the 2005-06 season, the Dragons boss said: "Let's get on with the rugby!"

Hazell added: "It's a positive outcome from the situation but I was confident when it all happened that common sense would prevail.

"Now we can get back to talking about the future and building up towards the new season without all of this going on. We are very happy about it."

A statement for the Celtic League read: "As a consequence of a very positive and productive meeting in London today the Celtic League Association confirm that the three unions have reached agreement to accommodate the proposed Anglo-Welsh cup competition in the 2005-06 season."

The expulsion of the Welsh regions had left them facing the possibility of just nine guaranteed fixtures per season.

The details of the agreement have yet been disclosed, but the Celtic League are expected to outline their plans on Monday morning.