THE Welsh First Division clubs are to push for an all-Welsh Premier Division of 12 clubs at the extraordinary general meeting of the WRU on April 7.

But their move to increase rather than reduce the top tier to six as Rugby Wales Partnership (RWP), the so-called Gang of Six, want surely means stalemate again.

Such is the anger at RWP's proposal, agreed after numerous meetings with the WRU and to be proposed by the Union at the EGM, that it seems certain to be thrown out. But the First Division clubs' proposal, which followed a meeting in Rumney last night, may also be doomed as most people agree a reduction of some sort at the top is required.

Under the First Division club's plan, the top five in an enlarged division would compete in the Heineken Cup and receive extra funding and the remaining seven would compete in the European Shield with clubs in the lower divisions receiving the funding they receive now.

WRU chairman Glanmor Griffiths and the general committee would appear safe from censure over their handling of the issues as a move for a motion of no confidence in them was defeated last night.

Dave Escott, chairman of the First Division clubs, said: "The meeting went well and support for our plans was substantial. I think there is something for everybody in our proposals".

One Gwent club official said: "The general feeling was that the six want to grab everything for themselves and spoil things for everyone else. Everyone is 100% against them, we believe we have been blackmailed and bullied.'

But London Welsh's Dave Hammond, a member of the WRU general committee, said: "To have 12 teams is too much. There would be too many games and it would be diluting the talent. The whole purpose of six clubs is to concentrate the talent. I find these latest suggestions bizarre."