PONTYPOOL are finished if Welsh rugby goes provincial, says Byron Hayward, their vastly experienced outside-half.

Top points scorer Hayward says the biggest reason he returned to Pontypool after spells with Llanelli and Gloucester was to get them back in the premier division.

But those hopes will be frustrated if the Welsh Rugby Union go ahead with four or five district teams competing in the Heineken Cup and Celtic League next season with an all-Welsh first division below that.

The timetable for change is as:

Discussions between the WRU working party made up of four members from the Union and four from the leading clubs are taking place now.

They will reach a decision on the way forward, then report that to the WRU general committee in December.

An extraordinary meeting of all 239 clubs will be held in January to vote on the formula put to them.

That final decision will be implemented in time for next season.

Hayward says Pontypool, who lead the First Division by six points, have been building towards promotion which would be denied them if a provincial system comes in.

"I was hoping to achieve something, but that doesn't look possible now," said Hayward.

"If this all happens there is no hope for us or for our supporters, and they pay the money to watch us every week.

"It's now or never for us. If we don't get promotion now, we never will.

"The reason I came back to play for Pontypool was I wanted them to be a top side playing in the premier division. Now there could be nowhere for us to go," he added.

"It's disappointing because people like Bob Jude (Pontypool benefactor) are trying to do something and we are trying to get it right.

"The crowds are improving greatly and people can see there is light at the end of the tunnel.

"When we played Aberavon, we had 2,500 people there and away we have bigger support than the home side.

"The support is awesome, they travel all over the place, even to grounds like Llanharan.

"But I don't think a provincial system will ever work in Wales."