THE LEADING clubs in England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland will tomorrow know whether Sky is prepared to fund a breakaway movement. Representatives of clubs from the four countries will meet in London together with a delegation from France and expect to be offered a contract by Sky which would be worth £25 million a year.

Though the Sky chief executive Sam Chisholm has told the four home unions that not only will he not fund a breakaway but that he is more likely to withdraw from rugby first, the clubs insist that Sky is with them and prepared to back a European Cup, an AngloWelsh tournament as well as the English league.

The 12 Welsh first division clubs met their union this week and were offered £3.6 million this season. The clubs would bank £200,000 each with £1.2 million being given to First Division Ltd (FDL) to share out on a merit basis.

The Welsh league is not sponsored this season and there is no backer for the Anglo Welsh Cup, a competition which seemed a good idea two months ago but which has been a victim of congested club and international fixture schedules.

FDL was also promised a greater say in the running of the competitions in which it was involved though the Welsh Rugby Union would still retain ultimate control. The union's plan is that the Anglo Welsh Cup and the European Cup would be played on Saturdays next season with the Welsh league matches played on a home or away basis which would cut the fixtures by half.

The clubs accept that the value of their own club tournament is not high because Sky has told them it is not interested in securing the television rights for it. The Welsh 12 are keeping an open mind. Some are sceptical about Sky finally coming up with an offer.

"We have heard promises for months," said one club official.

"The time has now come for Sky to put up or shut up because we need the money desperately. We have been told there will be a signed contract from Sky ready for us in London, but seeing is believing.

"The WRU's offer is on the table and though it falls short of the £500,000 each we were asking for, it is at least a start. The union has also shifted its ground on the issue of control and proposes a business committee on which it would have a majority of one. It remains to be seen whether that could be sold to the whole of the WRU's membership, but even then it is less than what we want."

England's leading 24 clubs have served notice on the Rugby Football Union that they will be going, their own way a week tomorrow, but those clubs not owned by millionaires still have to win the approval of their members.

All of Wales's first division clubs would need the consent of their members even though five of them have made moves to become limited companies.

The French clubs have stayed out of the dispute because of the financial support they receive from local government, backing which would be jeopardised if they took part in competitions not sanctioned by the French Federation. But officials have agreed to go to London to maintain a watching brief.

While all the leading players in England are contracted to their clubs, 20 of the Wales squad have joint contracts with their clubs and the WRU. The players are understood to be backing the clubs but would face legal action if they took part in rebel competitions.

. Guardian Service

. Wales coach Kevin Bowring, last night called for the Welsh union to look again at the heavy demands on his players. Bowring, whose side take on Italy in Rome on Saturday, says that many of, his players have played 10 times in the last month.

"Ideally my players should have one quality match a week and one quality training session," he said. "But that is not happening. I am confident we will sort, out a structured season that will help both club and Wales demands."

As well as suffering the consequences of the long running club against country debate, the Wales coach has had his plans hit by several injuries in the run up to Saturday's match.

He said: "I have been worried that some of the squad have played as many as 10 matches in the last month and that is far too much."

Bowring will announce the Wales side tomorrow, but has a "fair idea" of the team he wants to select.