THE great Welsh rugby row has taken another twist with a move by David Moffett to involve the Premier Division clubs.
Moffett, the former Welsh Rugby Union group chief executive who is now interim chief executive of Regional Rugby Wales, has contacted Premier Division clubs chairman Chris Clarke, the Cross Keys secretary, to try to set up a meeting.
Clarke confirmed: “David Moffett has been in touch to ask for a meeting with us. The situation is developing.”
No indication has been given what the meeting will be about, but it is due to be held later this week.
Clarke was involved in a row of his own with WRU group chief executive Roger Lewis at last month’s annual meeting after which he made a complaint about Lewis’ behaviour.
The complaint was investigated by a WRU sub committee who found there was no case to answer, but noted the apology Lewis had given to Clarke.
Sources in the current row between the Union and the regions have indicated that the regions who Moffett represents may want the premier clubs to be involved.
Their growing dispute ended up in the High Court last Friday and produced an outcome in favour of the WRU in obtaining the release of Wales squad players for training for three days this week.
It is believed the regions may even want the premier division to go fully professional with them controlling that division as well, while also bringing the academies under their control.
It would leave the WRU a pretty toothless governing body, and they could hardly agree to such proposals.
So far from talks between the WRU and RRW reaching an amicable agreement once the rivals sit down together again, the gap appears to be ever widening. The Wales squad players, meanwhile, reported for training under Wales coach Warren Gatland yesterday after the court ruling and will remain in camp today and tomorrow.
They will return to their regions on Thursday to prepare for the weekend’s EDF Energy Cup final group games before regrouping at the Welsh team headquarters on Monday to prepare for the game against South Africa a week on Saturday.
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