CWMBRAN Rugby Club are taking the Welsh Rugby Union to court over its decision to throw them out of the Konica Minolta Welsh Cup.

The WRU took the action after upholding a complaint that Cwmbran fielded an ineligible player two rounds ago against Denbigh - a claim the club vigorously denies.

The Division Three East club intend taking out an injunction to prevent the fifth round tie between Brynmawr and Rhymney going ahead, thus throwing the competition into disarray.

"We are not a wealthy club, but we feel such a strong sense of injustice that we have to pursue it through the courts," said Cwmbran chairman Brian Wallis.

They are insisting last Saturday's fourth round tie between Rhymney and Denbigh be declared null and void and that Rhymney play them for the right to decide who faces Brynmawr.

Cwmbran narrowly won the third round tie at Denbigh, but the North Wales club complained that opposing player Lee Hopkins was not eligible.

Cwmbran say the player has been with them since the age of eight, but went away to college and was called up to play at Denbigh because of injury problems.

Cwmbran say it has always been the case that a player who has been with a club for so long and then goes away to study or join the armed forces remains that club's player. But they say the WRU have ruled such a player must be re-registered at 18.

The WRU upheld Denbigh's case, but Cwmbran appealed against the decision. They were initially told no appeal could take place, but the WRU eventually allowed one just before Christmas when the original decision was upheld.

Now Cwmbran are going to court.

"We have got absolutely no axe to grind against Rhymney or Brynmawr, they are not involved. But we feel so strongly about the way Denbigh and the WRU have handled it that the only course of action is to go through the legal system," said Mr Wallis.

"I know of other clubs in our area who were fined around £400 or docked points near the end of last season when they were unable to rearrange the games.

"They were considering taking legal action, but the financial resources were not available to them.

"We are not fighting on behalf of anyone else, but feel there is a huge injustice. We have had support from all over the place. People just don't believe this decision has been made.

"There is a barrister's conference next week and we will be looking to serve an injunction to prevent the Brynmawr-Rhymney game being played until there is a result in court.

"If we win, the Rhymney-Denbigh game will be null and void. The WRU had no right to allow that game to be played."

No one at the WRU was available for comment.