AN urgent meeting is being sought between leaders of the Welsh Rugby Union disciplinary committee and the Welsh referees after a complete breakdown in communications between them.

Referees have withdrawn co-operation because they feel let down by the disciplinary committee.

They claim referees are not receiving the support they should get and that they are being isolated in disciplinary meetings because clubs turn up with video analysis and solicitors to back their appeals against decisions.

And another issue is that the Welsh Referees Society is owed money from a deal to wear kit cut between the Union and sponsors Specsavers.

It is believed referees are particularly upset over one case in particular when the appeal by Aberavon coach Chris O'Callaghan against a heavy fine and touchline ban was partially overturned.

He was fined £2,000 and banned from the touchline after the referee had been allegedly abused.

But on appea,l while the fine stood, it was decided the coach could go back to the touchline.

More generally, referees spokesman Hugh Banfield said: "We are now in conflict with the WRU over mismanagement due to a lack of leadership, guidance and vision.

"We have divorced ourselves from and do not recognise the WRU code of conduct or the disciplinary procedure.

"This means that referees are advised not to attend any disciplinary meetings or appeals hearings until there is a complete review of both procedures."

Banfield also told of the cash that the refs are owed, adding: "The WRU owes us 40 per cent of the £40,000 it is getting this season for the sponsorship deal announced in August.

"If we do not receive that money by November 30, it is likely that referees will boycott the sponsored kit." Now Clive Norling, WRU director of referees, and Geraint Edwards, chairman of the disciplinary committee, will hold urgent talks to try to resolve the crisis.

WRU chairman Glanmor Griffiths, meanwhile, has received short shrift from the National Assembly in his efforts to get financial assistance.

The WRU are now £60m in debt on the Millennium Stadium, with annual interest charges of £4m which they can meet, but they are not getting the capital sum owed down.

Griffiths met culture minister Jenny Randerson yesterday and was told that without a business plan there could be no financial aid.

He warned that the bank could call the loan in at any time.

But he was told the Assembly could not give grants towards construction after a building had been completed.

And they could not consider any request for money until they had received a business plan and cash-flow forecast.

But Randerson did say the Assembly would help with major events at the stadium.

l Swansea have been fined £2,000 and given a suspended two point reduction in the Heineken Cup pool after appearing before an independent disciplinary committee of the European Rugby Cup yesterday.

They were charged with misconduct relating to the use of two players - Gavin Henson and Dean Thomas - who had previously been sent-off in a Celtic League match against Llanelli earlier in the season.

The ERC disciplinary committee accepted that the problem was unintentiaonl as a result of negligence and was not a deliberate breach of the rules.