BLACKMAIL of an extreme degree -- that is the verdict of Ebbw Vale director of rugby Ray Harris on the ultimatum given to the WRU by the 'Gang of Six' that they will withdraw their players for the Scotland international, writes Ryland James.

The 'Gang of Six' - Llanelli, Swansea, Newport, Cardiff, Pontypridd and Bridgend - are demanding the union guarantee them funding of £1.5 million a year, which would probably involve dropping the number of clubs, and if their demands are not met they will withdraw their players from the Scotland game on April 6.

The WRU met representatives from the six clubs last Wednesday, while the nine Welsh clubs met the following day in a meeting Harris stormed out of after presenting a legal letter making his feelings known.

Now it remains to be seen if the WRU will meet the demands from the 'Gang of Six,' with some backers threatening to pull their financial support and walk away from Welsh rugby.

Harris said: "All the international players have been written to by the six clubs and from what I can gather, they are saying they should withdraw their services for the game against Scotland because the clubs haven't got enough money to pay them unless they get more money from the union.

"It's blackmail of an extreme degree and it's disgusting. "These six clubs have now decided to go to seven clubs, they are asking for £1.5 million each, which could escalate -- and these people want to run the game in Wales! "Whatever the criticism of the WRU, this bunch haven't got a clue how to run their own clubs, let alone the game.

"They are a disgrace to the Welsh nation and they are hiding behind their own players. If they had the guts they would pull the players.

"They need to be up front with the public and not get their players to do their dirty work for them.

"They expected us to take a vote on how many clubs should be in the league, they want seven not six.

"The whole plan makes no sense, they are trying to justify the amount of money in rugby terms, but you can't.

"They try to justify it by saying the Celtic League might just possibly go to a home and away basis.

"I sat in meetings where we were going to get £200,000 for playing in the league, but it has cost us £500,000 so we are actually paying to improve Scottish and Irish rugby.

"They are a body that has no minutes for their meetings and has no constitution and they expect people to take notice of the vote. I wasn't prepared to be involved with that.

"Our legal people informed them the meeting had no constitution, it might as well be nine blokes in a pub having a chat. "They don't deserve to be taken notice of, once you produce a letter like that there's nothing more to say."