THE six leading Welsh rugby clubs who launched their own plans for the future yesterday have today handed in a request for a meeting with the Welsh Rugby Union.

And it has emerged the six have the backing of all the top players, who are under contract to them, not the WRU.

If they are not prepared to talk to us who are they prepared to talk to? asked Newport chief executive Keith Grainger, one of the six present at the launch.

They said they wanted three provinces or five super teams. We are saying we havent got agreement over nine clubs, but potentially the best structure is the group of six and we are offering a partnership similar to the English success.

The current status quo cant be maintained because there are too many players and not enough of quality, and because there is no professional body responsible for the commercial structure opportunities are not being taken.

So the pressures are down to the club and the owners which is not acceptable to the owners or the public.

Ultimately people power will win this because people dont want provincial rugby. The key is to meet and form a joint venture company in an effort to find a way forward. The management board (made up of four WRU and four club representatives on behalf of the nine clubs) didnt come up with anything.

We cant carry on as it is because it isnt viable. There has to be some doubt whether the request by the six for a meeting with the WRU will be granted.