Deadlock remains in Wales

European Cup organisers again suspended yesterday's planned release of the draw for this year's troubled competition while discussions between both Cardiff and Swansea, and the Welsh Rugby Union, continued throughout the day, but seemingly to no avail.

Neither club signed the vexed 10-year loyalty agreements to the WRU, the deadline for which was 1pm, but instead contacted the union shortly before lunchtime to arrange separate private meetings with WRU officials.

By last night both the Welsh Union and the English RFU reiterated that the mooted British league was a non-runner for this season, but both Welsh clubs remained adamant that they would not re-enter the Welsh League, and would instead play the 14 English Premiership One clubs in home and away `friendlies.'

Cardiff claim a legally binding agreement means those fixtures must go ahead, but neither the WRU nor Rugby Football Union will sanction them. If the loyalty agreements are not signed, both clubs face expulsion from the eight-team Welsh Premier Division, in turn raising the likelihood of them not playing in this season's European Cup.

The Cardiff chief executive Gareth Davies last night reiterated that his club will not play in the Premier Division next season. He still expects the English Premiership One clubs to defy the RFU and meet the Welsh side on a home-and-away basis.

Davies said: "We have an agreement with the English clubs that they will be playing us. We will be playing 30 matches during the season, 15 at home and 15 away, against the 14 teams in the Allied Dunbar Premiership One, and Swansea. We will not be playing in the WRU Premiership."

Swansea are due to convene a board meeting tomorrow morning to discuss their position. With loans from the WRU of £400,000 still outstanding, the reigning Welsh champions may have to sign a one-year agreement with the WRU and remain within the national set-up and the European Cup.

Meanwhile, the next weekend's Inteprrovincial match between Munster and Leinster, which had been switched from Friday evening to Saturday and then from 2.30 to 1.30, has finally been switched back again to Friday evening in Dooradoyle at 6pm. The Connacht-Ulster tie goes ahead on Saturday at 3.0.