WELSH rugby is again in turmoil after a possible peace plan for the future of the game was apparently scuppered by Bridgend owner Leighton Samuel less than 20 hours after it had been proposed.

A crucial meeting on Monday morning between Welsh Rugby Union chief executive David Moffett and the Premier clubs will now decide whether there is any future for the clubs' proposals for five regional teams.

This was put forward on Thursday as a counter plan to the WRU's own favoured proposals for four provincial sides.

Samuel and Bridgend agreed to the five-team plan which would put them in with Pontypridd, but at a Press conference yesterday announced he wanted to stay with Neath in the WRU's four-team scheme.

He accused Moffett of trying to push forward the five-team plan by using the Union's ownership of Neath to vote in its favour and isolate Bridgend.

He also claimed the five teams plan was likely to be ruled out by the WRU on financial grounds.

Neath chief executive Mike Cuddy claimed the Union had no right to vote on their behalf because he had a written agreement to buy the club from them with his financial backers.

But Moffett refuted their claims, said he and the WRU general committee had no knowledge of Cuddy's attempted buy-out, and said that if at Monday's meeting the five teams proposal did unravel, he would bring forward the four team proposal to be voted on at the February 23 EGM of clubs.

Of Samuels claims, Moffett said: "That kind of comment is beneath contempt.

"The facts are that the WRU own Neath and as a result of that it will be the general committee, not David Moffett or Glanmor Griffiths, that makes a decision in respect of the club.

"As to how I'm supposed to have manipulated the offer that came from the club owners, I wasn't there. I have no vote and have no mandate to vote. You have to be very clear on that.

"I know I have a lot of powers but thought transference is not one of them.

"I personally and the general committee are unaware of any offer being made for Neath.

"As for Leighton Samuel, he owns Bridgend and he can make decisions in respect of them. Nobody's coercing him or forcing him to do anything."

Regarding the way forward, Moffett said: "I have arranged a meeting with the Premier clubs for 9.30am on Monday because of the need to move this forward and with the single purpose of flushing out their unanimous offer, with the exception of Neath.

"If it turns out that that agreement unravels I'll have no hesitation in seeking to bring forward the meeting with the general committee (from Thursday) to inform them of that.

"On Monday we'll find out whether the clubs still have unanimous agreement (which Moffett says is vital if their proposals are to have a chance). It's up to them to decide if they still have a viable option.

"We have to accept that the clubs find themselves in a difficult situation, but so do we and it's now time for us and the clubs to show leadership."

He said he was not playing games but admitted being confused over the turn of events concerning Bridgend and Neath.

And he added he believed the issue of the ownership of Neath was a separate issue which he would investigate if given evidence.

He admitted he was frustrated by events since he took over his job six weeks ago and said that in order to move Welsh rugby forward the clubs had to "come to the party."