NEWPORT should consider joining the English set-up if the super club system is not accepted, says former Wales captain Brian Price.

He is one of Newport's most distinguished former players and is famous for leading the side which defeated Wilson Whineray's 1963-64 All Blacks, the only defeat New Zealand suffered on their 30-match tour of the United Kingdom.

Price also won 32 caps for Wales between 1961-69 and after a lifetime in teaching as well as commenting for BBC Wales, he now says Newport should ultimately look to England.

He is as shocked as anybody by the four-team provincial plan, outlined by WRU director of rugby Terry Cobner and new chief executive David Moffett.

He rejects provincialism in Wales and believes they should adopt super clubs instead. And, if that fails, Price advises Newport to cross the border into England.

"I definitely favour super clubs with Newport in view of their history and facilities, and they should be a stand-alone club," said Price.

"Newport have got it all there and they should be ready to go it alone.

"I don't see why Newport should risk going down the provincial route when it will take two or three years to bed in and get any support going for it.

"There are so many banana skins about what route to take, and Newport have already said they are not interested if they want to use the ground.

"But if push comes to shove at the end of it all, then Newport should apply to the RFU (they are the only Welsh-based club who hold dual membership, now an associate membership, of the WRU and RFU).

"They should ask if they can go into their system and at what level.

"Newport going into England has been talked about before, like buying Rotherham. "There has been too much investment at the club for it to be tossed away and shared by a provincial team.

"I feel sorry for clubs like Ebbw Vale and Caerphilly. I'd like to keep all the clubs, but you have to make sacrifices somewhere."

Price also pours cold water on the all-Welsh premier or first division left behind.

"Our national league will be semi-professional. Without the top players playing in it, you wouldn't see them in a second-class league," he said.

"They would gradually lose support and run down the traditions of Welsh rugby which would be a great shame.

"With super clubs there would still be a base from which to start again."

Newport chairman David Watkins says he will canvass the opinion of club supporters before they arrive at a decision whether to support provincial or club based rugby.

The nine premier clubs were meeting today to formulate a response and an alternative plan to the four provinces ides put forward by new WRU chief executive David Moffett.