Despite the fact that I bumped into the majority of the Glamorgan squad in the gym this week - 12 month contracts kicking in - it is time to talk rugby this week.

The Heineken Cup this season has already provided us with some rich moments, if not necessarily from the Welsh regions. It really is a fantastic competition. Every week I look at the fixtures and think - 'I'd love to be there' nearly all the way down the list.

There are any number of enthralling matches and some wonderful places to visit - often new venues to explore. It is a shame that there can be no continuity in the competition, as after two rounds we now have a break for the autumn internationals, but if I tell you - and I am not boasting, honest - that for those two opening weekends I have been to Thomond Park in Limerick to watch Munster play Harlequins and then Biarritz in South Western France to see Leicester, then you can see what variety and quality this competition has.

I was pleased to see that the Dragons emerged victorious last weekend, providing Wales' one and only beacon of light. But I had also been surprised that they succumbed to Newcastle the week before. I think that the Dragons are the strongest of the Welsh regions, despite the Ospreys' flying start in the Celtic League, because I think they possess the best pack.

I worry about the Ospreys physically in the tough games. Yes, you might point out that they stood toe to toe with Munster last weekend but in Limerick the week before Ireland's finest had looked distinctly ordinary up front against the Quins.

There seems little doubt that they are not the force they were. It will be a surprise if they reach the semi finals this year - as they have done for the last five years.

But the biggest surprise for me last weekend was the reaction of Llanelli Scarlets director of rugby, Gareth Jenkins, to his team's comprehensive defeat to Northampton. Now I have the utmost respect for Jenkins and what he has achieved at Stradey Park, especially in Europe. And usually I think that he talks a lot of sense.

But his comments that the Welsh regions need to sign more overseas players left me bewildered. You all know my feelings about what is happening in county cricket so this should come as no real shock.

Jenkins was reacting because Northampton had ten foreigners in their starting line up. That is disgraceful in itself. Jenkins should have been saying that, not saying he wanted to do something similar. Northampton have a South African coach in Alan Solomons, who seems to have little thought for what he is doing to English rugby.

And as a result of this - because, although Northampton are the worst culprits, there are many other sides committing the same sin - English rugby is not in that rude a health in my opinion. I have seen quite a lot of the Zurich Premiership this season, and whilst there can be no denying that most of the games are incredibly physical and intense, there has been an alarming lack of creativity.

That has been the England national team's problem ever since the World Cup (and maybe even during it) and it isn't getting better. They are struggling and I can see them having a difficult year.

Anyone who has read my book will realise that I confessed in there that, due to my Forest of Dean upbringing, I cannot support anyone but England at rugby. But if I were a betting man, I would get down to the bookies now and get some money on Wales to beat England in February. They won't be the only team to beat the World Champions either.

One of the reasons for Wales going regional was to encourage the production of home grown players, and that is how it should be.

As with the cricket I fully agree with the quality overseas signings - big names with big hearts, such as the likes of Gary Teichmann and Percy Montgomery - but not a glut of them, certainly not the many who are signed because they can be bought relatively cheaply. About three per side would be about right and I'm sure Gareth Jenkins will realise that when he calms down a little.

He might even realise that Salesi Finau, for all his occasional thumping tackles and loyalty to Llanelli, is not the sort of quality overseas player for which he or anyone else should be searching.