SO the natives are getting restless again, there's a surprise. I'm referring, of course, to a number of clubs and their relationship with the Welsh Rugby Union.

We're not even through the first month of the year yet already there are murmurings of discontent and even suggestions of an emergency meeting being called once the criteria of ten clubs giving three weeks written notice is provided, a formality it appears.

The only surprise in all this is that it's taken barely a few weeks since the official departure of former WRU group chief executive David Moffett when a few days would have been more like it.

Apart from the fact that the idea of a Welshman being back at the helm of the national game when millions of pounds will be generated for the Welsh economy by three home Six Nations games is somehow a signal for rebellion, what can it all be about?

Is there concern over the colour of the paint in the WRU toilets? Is it because the rank and file don't like the design of Millennium Stadium chief executive Paul Sergeant's many sweaters? Is it because WRU chief executive Steve Lewis is a Gwent man? (the major discontent is from down west).

No, it's none of those things. It's mainly about the non-replacement of Moffett with another group chief executive, though there are other issues like the way some clubs were exposed in the media over selling tickets illegally via the internet, which were all denied.

It may be in the WRU constitution that there has to be a group chief executive at the top, but if the two who would be working under him - Lewis and Sergeant - are doing a decent enough job then why not let it stay that way?

Most important of all, having them running affairs means well over £200,000 a year is being saved by not replacing Moffett directly.

Given that the WRU are not entirely out of the financial woods yet, given that they still have a debt of over £40m surely it makes sound economic sense not to replace Moffett whatever the constitution says provided a good job is being done by those left in charge.

From all the soundings I have taken, both from within the WRU and from the outside, there is little reason to criticise either Lewis or Sergeant, who are dedicated to running a tight and efficient ship.

Lewis, for example, has had a brief but perfectly amicable relationship with Tony Brown, the former Newport benefactor - who unfortunately is NOT returning to Rodney Parade despite constantly being pestered by many to do so - when he couldn't get on at all with predecessors Glanmor Griffiths and David Moffett. But the natives don't like it. They clearly want to spend Moffett's £200,000plus salary rather than be prudent and save it.

It looks very much as though they are spoiling for a fight again and that all the old rivalries and petty jealousies are surfacing again, as some feared. Why don't they just get a life?

And life there could be for Newport Gwent Dragons after all, despite my warnings that the region could turn into another Connacht with an under-strength squad, a lack of investment and a fear that leading players would leave because of a lack of ambition.

Chairman Martyn Hazell been extremely generous of late and efforts are being made to draft players into an injury hit squad for the all-important final two months of the season.

And, compared with the other regions, things may not be quite as catastrophic after all.

The Ospreys, for example, shipped 45 points against Stade Francais while Cardiff Blues conceded an embarrassing 48 at Leeds, who are bottom of the Guinness Premiership table.

The Dragons, on the other hand, conceded 29 in Castres, scoring 24 themselves, and 30 in Munster and at Sale.

Even the old Newport team let in 39 points in Munster, 42 against London Irish, 43 in Castres and a whopping 70 in Toulouse. The Dragons wouldn't roll over like that, for sure.

And some of the younger Dragons players are making progress with stand-in 'back three' players. Gareth Chapman, Aled Thomas and Richard Fussell all doing really well in recent matches despite coming straight out of a club background.

Inject some real pride, like the battling men of Munster possess at Thomond Park, and unlike the spineless men of Cardiff, and the Dragons could face a brighter future than appeared before Christmas, even if no major new backer does appear.