THE intimidation of rugby referees must stop now, insists Gwent's leading official Paul Adams of Ebbw Vale.

The Welsh Society of Referees decided at last night's emergency meeting to call on the WRU disciplinary committee to resign.

They also reserve the right to take strike action or withdraw their services from matches if they feel a club or region refuses to co-operate.

Referees secretary Hugh Banfield says they were appalled at the leniency of the ban on Percy Montgomery, but stresses their dissatisfaction is about more than that.

"We will make it a condition that the current disciplinary procedure and committee will cease," said Banfield.

Adams says referees are being left out on a limb and that intimidation has to stop.

"Referees are seen to be at a disadvantage going into tribunals when players are represented by professional people," he said.

"People are going in with lawyers when referees are on their own having made split second decisions weeks earlier.

"The players on the whole are as good as gold, but the atmosphere among the supporters is more like football. We don't want to see referees intimidated like they are in soccer.

There's enough trouble recruiting referees now."

Geraint Edwards, chairman of the disciplinary committee, refused to comment, saying enquiries should go through professional staff.

But general manager Steve Lewis, who addressed the referees meeting last night, left today for Australia and New Zealand where he will also act as media officer.

* The planned launch of the Bridgend-Pontypridd regional team next Monday has been put off because of disagreements particularly about branding.

There is no sign of any Gwent or Newport/Ebbw Vale launch either because a deal has still not been struck. The region's French opposition next season will be Stade Francais, who beat Toulouse in the championship final. The pool matches, which do not start until December because of the World Cup, will now be against Leicester, Ulster and Stade Francais.