THE Celtic League organisation say they are considering using video evidence by appointing a fourth official to all league matches.

Cost, availability of evidence and the newness of the league have all been listed as reasons why video in the case of disputed tries has not yet been used in the competition.

Lack of it has been highlighted since the Dragons game in Cork on Saturday night when two, apparently legitimate tries, one by Rhys Thomas and the other by Jason Forster, were turned down by Scottish referee Malcolm Changleng while the Dragons also queried a third by Bryn Griffiths.

Bringing the inadequacy of the system into even sharper focus is the fact that the other three main competitions - the Heineken Cup, Powergen Cup and Guinness Premiership - all use a fourth official who adjudicates on possible tries by video.

"We did have it in the Celtic Cup final, but that doesn't exist any more and we don't have it now in the league," admitted Celtic League tournament director David Jordan.

"One of the main reasons has been the cost, as well as having the equipment and the personnel to manage it," he said.

"We have got to have all the angles covered and Sky TV (who televise the Heineken Cup) have eight or so cameras at matches.

"So a lot depends on coverage from the broadcasters which is not always available, like having a camera behind the try line.

"It's not impossible to introduce this, it's something we are considering. I'm wanting the level of our competition to rise both on and off the field, including how it's managed in terms of discipline and other ways.

"But I would say the Heineken and Premiership competitions have ten years of history behind them, which is an advantage they have over the Celtic League (now in its third year).

"It's taken a long time to get this up and running, to get where we are statistically and technically. The Celtic League has improved substantially already."

Whichever team ends up as fourth Welsh side will have a better chance than last year of qualifying for the Heine-ken Cup.

Assuming that team finishes above the last place Irish and Scottish sides they will face a play-off against the third Italian side probably in Wales rather than in Italy as was the case with Cardiff Blues against Viadana last year. That ought to be a banker Welsh win, ensuring the fourth Welsh team a Heineken Cup place.

Newport Gwent Dragons currently lie in fourth place among the Welsh teams, but they are above Connacht, the last Irish team, and effectively above Glasgow, the final Scottish team, as well because Glasgow have received eight points for blank weekends compared with the Dragons' four.