EBBW Vale face the European Shield headache of losing three of their pack for the return match at Madrid next Saturday.

After Saturday's 37-16 win over the Spaniards at Eugene Cross Park, Vale must fly out to the Spanish capital for the return leg, but face losing South African lock Ockert Booyse, plus Tongan pair number eight Kati Tuipulotu and prop Damien Penisini.

The problem is that the trio don't have European Union passports and a new rule brought in last month means that all visas for non-EU passport holders must be applied for in person after an appointment at the Spanish Embassy has been secured in writing.

The new lengthy process has presented Vale with problems and the competition's organisers European Rugby Cup Ltd have intervened for the Gwent side who hope the process can be sped up.

But if they aren't successful, Vale will lose the services of their trio - both Booyse and Tuipulotu are regulars in the pack, while Penisini provides cover for the front row.

Vale take a 21 point cushion with them for the return leg, but coach Mike Ruddock wants to get the passport matter resolved quickly.

He said: "My main concern is to get the players involved out there, we are getting the ERC to help our cause.

"We are looking forward to next week, I think they'll have quite a dry pitch out there and we want to play a bit of rugby, but we need to get the players out there."

But while pleased to get a win, Ruddock was relieved that Vale had produced a better performance than last week's lacklustre trouncing by Llanelli when the Scarlets ran out 53-13 winners at Eugene Cross Park.

"Obviously we would have liked to have scored a few more points," he said "but we were very disappointed last week with our lack of effort.

"The reality is that we have been more positive in our play, but the referee (Italian Antonio Lombardi) made things difficult by hindering the pace of the game, all those free-kicks stopped the pace of the game for both sides.

"Madrid have improved, they weren't competing at the lineout earlier in the competition, they have obviously picked up a few things and organised their defence.

"But it was disappointing the number of basic errors, the knock ons, the line-outs we lost and the silly errors we need to get out of our game if we are going to produce any sort of challenge."

Ruddock also praised number eight Kati Tuipulotu whose high work-rate will be missed if he is forced to miss the flight to Spain.