TOP class Wales backs Gareth Cooper, Ceri Sweeney and Sonny Parker could be on their way to Rodney Parade to play for Newport Gwent Dragons.

And Newport could play in the Parker Pen European competition after winning the Welsh Premier Division title.

Those are just two of the shock possibilities after the almost certain demise of Celtic Warriors, which was exclusively forecast in yesterday's Argus.

We predicted yesterday that the troubled Warriors region could cease to exist, and that five regional teams could become four, as favoured all along by Welsh Rugby Union chief executive David Moffett.

The WRU decided at last night's special meeting to take over the Warriors. Already owning 50 per cent of the region, they decided to purchase the other half from Warriors benefactor Leighton Samuel.

Moffett will now conduct a review of the Warriors' situation and report back to the board by May 27, but closure is a real possibility.

That would be catastrophic for rugby in the Valleys and some players as well as coaches and other staff would clearly be made redundant.

But others would be placed with the remaining four regions, though their contracts would have to be honoured as it is stressed the Warriors have not gone bust.

It is believed the buy-out was worth £1.2m and that, as has been reported elsewhere, the other four regions offered to finance the purchase.

The upshot of all this could be the transfer of major Wales players like Cooper, Sweeney and Parker to the Dragons who are in need of strengthening behind.

If the Warriors are wound up and some, or all, of these players end up at Rodney Parade it will obviously remove the need to go out and buy a major overseas player for the Dragons.

But the Newport club could also prosper if Cardiff Blues, who missed out on a Heineken Cup place, are now put back in as the fourth Welsh team instead of the Warriors.

That would leave the Parker Pen competition without a team from Wales in it, which is where Newport could come in as Premier Division champions.

But the WRU could also consider Neath as cup winners, or a combination of the two, or even a Valley team. However, whichever side it was would probably be in the second tier shield competition with Italian, Spanish and Romanian sides.

Even then expenses, especially over travelling, would clearly be a major issue for a lesser club side.