CONSTANT internal bickering has ruined the chances of five super clubs being recommended as the way ahead for Welsh rugby next season.

The Argus can reveal that the original plan by new Welsh Rugby Union chief executive David Moffett was for five super teams - Newport, Cardiff, Llanelli, Swansea and Pontypridd - to represent Wales in the Heineken Cup and Celtic League next season.

Instead of that Moffett and director of rugby Terry Cobner have gone for four regional teams.

They dropped their bombshell at a meeting with the clubs last Thursday, recommending that a new province be set up in North Wales, that Newport combine with Ebbw Vale and Caerphilly to play at Rodney Parade, that Cardiff combine with Pontypridd and Bridgend at the Arms Park and that Llanelli combine with Swansea and Neath at Stradey Park.

That provoked uproar, and the clubs will give their reply after a meeting tomorrow when they will possibly suggest a different plan.

Already Newport, who own their own ground and have been offered £8m for it by property developers, are considering refusing to allow a provincial team to play there.

And supporters' club chairman Dennis Bennett said in Saturday's Argus that everything Newport had achieved in the past few years was in danger of being destroyed by provincial rugby.

But the clubs have scuppered their own chances of being at the forefront of the future of Welsh rugby.

I understand agreement had virtually been reached, though the final vote would be by all 239 WRU clubs at an extraordinary meeting, for five super clubs.

Then came the announcement by Bridgend and Neath that they intended joining forces as a provincial team next season and that was followed by threats of legal action by clubs left out who have loyalty agreements with the WRU.

Moffett's patience finally ran out, realising there was no chance of reaching a deal with the clubs. He had been brought in to make decisions - and quickly - so he switched to the provincial option which is on the table today.

Unless the clubs can agree on a way forward which is acceptable to all parties, Wales will have four provinces at the top professional end of the game next season.

One of them is due to be in North Wales which Neath official Mike Cuddy described as like Moffett setting up a province at Ayers Rock.

It could be that a North Wales team would be spearheaded by Iestyn Harris, who would be moved up to the Wrexham-based team.

* Moffett has also moved quickly to remove members of the WRU staff. He informed administrative manager David Stewart and marketing manager John Woodfield on Friday that they would have no role in the future.

* Leigh Jones, in charge of Newport, is emerging as the front runner for the job of coach to a Gwent-based provincial side.

* Ebbw Vale held a board meeting yesterday to consider the WRU plan and will attend Tuesday's meeting of the Premier clubs to try to come to a consensus with the others.