THE Welsh Rugby Union are confident there will be no player strike ahead of the Six Nations clash with England at Twickenham on March 23.

The clubs are due to make their threat on Wednesday at a meeting of the league management board because of their frustration at the lack of progress towards a slimmed down structure and their need for more funding.

"Nobody wants to do this, but we've been driven to it by sheer frustration. We've had enough," said one club spokesman.

Newport chief executive Keith Grainger is in Dublin today representing Welsh clubs at a Celtic League meeting when it is hoped progress will be made towards a full blown Celtic competition in 2004.

He denied a strike threat had been made yet, though the Argus revealed as long ago as October that players could be withdrawn from the Six Nations.

"A threat has never been made, but if they don't come up with a way to give the professional game some kind of future we will have to consider what action to take," said Grainger.

"All the clubs hope there is no need for a serious threat, but there is no viable future for the game and we still have no idea what the structure will be so the frustration is massive."

But WRU secretary Dennis Gethin said today: "The story has been blown up out of all proportion and I'm confident there will be no player strike. "It's a difficult topic, but progress is being made and I'm confident a solution will be reached."

He said the clubs could not withdraw their players because that would be against International Board regulations.

England chief Clive Woodward has warned of an England backlash against Wales after France denied them the Grand Slam again.

But Wales caretaker coach Steve Hansen says: "No team should fear anyone. If we concentrate on what we can control we shouldn't worry about who we are playing." Hansen is a firm believer in the basics and he sets himself and the management the same demands as the team.

"Our whole game has got to go up, though we improved from the France match," he said. "England are very strong in the basics and we must be able to do it under pressure. We will try to involve everybody doing more on the basics so we can become more confident.

"The players have been asked to improve so the coaches and management have to do it or we will stagnate."