FINANCIAL backers who have put millions of pounds into top rugby clubs will not allow their players to be centrally contracted to the Welsh Rugby Union.

That would mean signing over the players, who are their biggest assets, to the WRU and virtually disappearing from the game themselves.

And the leading clubs, who at the moment have the players under contract, still retain the right to prevent them playing for Wales.

All of that is likely to dash WRU hopes of a new structure comfortably negotiated with the clubs.

Four members of the WRU general committee met with four club representatives yesterday to further discuss the way ahead.

After the two meetings, WRU secretary Dennis Gethin said: "It has been agreed the four delegates representing the clubs will take back to a full meeting of the nine premier division clubs later this week a number of options regarding the structure of the professional game.

"Talks between both sides have been open and constructive and headway is being made towards the best possible solution for Welsh rugby. Dialogue between all interested parties will be ongoing."

It is believed the WRU's and Wales coach Graham Henry's preferred option is for five franchised clubs -- Newport, Cardiff, Swansea, Llanelli and Pontypridd, the latter representing the valleys to the exclusion of Ebbw Vale.

They would play in the Heineken Cup and probably Celtic League alongside four Irish and three Scottish teams, with 10 teams in a Welsh Premier Division, though the favoured five would not be able to field their top players in that.

Financial support would be assured as well, but in return the WRU would contract all their players and Henry would have control over them.

But the big clubs will not go along with that scenario.

Club owners and backers have invested millions and are hardly likely to just forget about that and hand over complete control to the WRU.

They don't believe the Union has managed anything particularly successfully so far, and are hardly likely to walk away now even if it would mean an easier life.

Among the questions they would want answering is what about their overseas players and those not eligible to play for Wales who have signed contracts with their clubs?

Would those contracts be honoured by the Union? And would there be promotion or relegation?

They still make it clear that unless they are properly funded from the WRU with a slimmed down league they could still withhold their players from Wales.