WALES A coach Mike Ruddock has unveiled his ideas for the future of the game in Wales as Welsh Rugby Union chief executive David Moffett sets his deadline for reform.

Moffett, back from a holiday in America, has now given Welsh clubs just four days to come up with their own proposals for the re-structuring of the game, but Ruddock has come up with his own answer.

Moffett controversially suggested last month that four provincial-based Welsh teams should play in the Heineken Cup next season, but his idea was greeted with uproar from the clubs.

The group chief executive is now set to put his vision to an EGM of the Union this month but insists: "Nothing has changed since Christmas."

He is meeting with clubs on Wednesday and warned: "You can say it is going to be a crunch week for Welsh rugby."

Moffett is also set to scrap the Wales A side when the WRU's general committee meet later this spring, effectively putting Ruddock out of a job, but the Ebbw Vale coach has some ideas of his own.

His counter-plan, if embraced by the WRU and the clubs, could combine the high standards of provincial rugby but avoid merging clubs into provinces.

The Ebbw Vale coach has suggested that the best five Welsh clubs are decided on merit by their league and cup performances over the last five years (eg Pontypridd, Cardiff, Swansea, Llanelli and Neath) and are chosen to represent the Principality in the Heineken Cup and the Celtic League for the next five years.

Under the draft system, once each of those teams has selected and registered a European Cup squad of 30 players, their fringe players are put into a pool, organised by senior Welsh coaches, where the remaining four senior Welsh sides Caerphilly, Ebbw Vale, Bridgend and Newport take it in turns to choose their squads for the European Shield.

The players are then dual registered and all the teams are involved in the Welsh Premiership.

The Steelmen's boss said: "What this idea will do is to try and get everyone playing in a structure that will lead to the strengthening of the Welsh side.

"It's something positive which keeps the Welsh club rugby's identity but allows us to develop a system which benefits club rugby."

Ruddock also suggests a wage structure, with the top Welsh international players involved in the European Cup being paid up to £80,000 and contracts controlled by the WRU on a salary scale.

With no club able to outbid another, players would have to reach a certain standard before earning the highest possible wage and the role of players' agents would become obsolete.

Ruddock added: "The salary cap will stop the wages spiralling out of control, there'll be the same old problem of players going to play in other countries wanting higher wages, but the rewards will be there for them in Wales if they produce the goods."

The system would allow dual registered players not involved in playing European rugby to get matches in the Welsh Premiership with other clubs and not kick their heels on the sidelines with their original teams.

With key youngsters like Wales Under-21s Gavin Henson and Gareth Swales to name just two at Swansea often left on the bench, Ruddock's suggestion means that players could be moved around the clubs to ensure players with potential are given game time.

Senior Welsh coaches, for example current national coach Steve Hansen, team manager Alan Phillips, Ruddock, and the age group coaches would make up the central contracts committee and be able to co-ordinate where clubs players go to.

The system could prove costly with foreign players having club contracts which would need to be honoured, but the system Ruddock suggests would decide which clubs play in Europe on historical merit.

Based around the current Irish structure, which allows players to be moved around the provinces, Ruddock cited scrum-half Derek Hegarty, who went from third choice at Leinster to breaking into Munster's European Cup side, as an example of how players can prosper.

But while the details of his proposals would need some fine tuning, Ruddock's is a positive suggestion in a sea of scepticism.

But while Moffett is expected to bring in provincial rugby for next season, Ruddock said the players need to know what is going on sooner rather than later.