THE Welsh Rugby Union are involved in last ditch talks with the four regions to try to obtain the early release of Wales squad players ahead of the first autumn international against world champions South Africa at the Millennium Stadium on November 8.

Coach Warren Gatland has already asked for the players to be released two weeks before the game, but that would mean the regions being without their top players for the final round of pool games in the EDF Energy Cup competition.

It would hit the Ospreys particularly hard since they supply three-quarters of the Welsh team, but if they don’t let them go it will hit Gatland even harder because their last EDF pool game is on Sunday, November 2, against London Irish just six days before the Springboks Test.

The regions failed to come back to Gatland after his request a few weeks ago, so more talks were held on Wednesday this week in an effort to break the deadlock. It is believed the regions are holding out for compensation plus other amendments to the participation agreement which is currently being renegotiated.

The RFU have obtained the release of England players for two week periods and they will miss almost half the Guinness Premiership games for their clubs this season, but they will receive millions in compensation, over £100,000 a player, something the WRU can’t afford.

Highlighting the delicacy of the situation, WRU chairman David Pickering said at yesterday’s new Under Armour kit launch at the stadium, “We have asked our regions to look at it again. Welsh rugby is about Welsh life, it’s important for Wales and the team to get the best opportunity.

“We had a meeting with the regions on Wednesday and asked them to look at it again. We are waiting for their response. They are private discussions and we have asked them for release periods for preparation.

“The IRB say there has to be adequate preparation time, but we like to do things amicably. We have talked to the regions about the participation agreement going forward, they have been going on for a few months and it will take a couple of months yet. We are trying to refine it and improve it.”

Pickering said about the new Under Armour kit deal: “This is a multi-million pound deal, it’s a fantastic product and yet again we are setting the pace. Welsh rugby defines us as a nation, it’s our national sport. A fantastic effort goes into winning that jersey, it’s symbolic and it means so much.”