While the Welsh regions have taken legal advice, the IRFU have declined to comment on the decision by the European Rugby Cup (ERC) to withhold money due to them from this season’s

Heineken Cup

competition.

The ERC recently decided not to sanction tournament appearance payments to the competing unions. The procedure was for the money to be paid to the unions, who would then disburse the money to the relevant clubs.

In Ireland’s case, the IRFU governs the four provinces and provides for their funding. The IRFU have supported the ERC in the dispute.

“It would be inappropriate for the IRFU to comment on ongoing ERC issues,” said an IRFU statement last night.

However, Wales’s four rugby regions, Llanelli, Cardiff, Newport and Ospreys are now taking legal advice over the non-payment of the European Cup cash. They were hoping to receive €240,000 each but will now have to wait another two weeks to see what decision the ERC make.

The possibility exists that the ERC could continue to withhold payment of the money and in Ireland’s case with four teams in the competition, the amount owed to the IRFU would be least equal to that of the Welsh regions.

The primary concern of the European body is what liabilities they might face if they were to be wound up and the Heineken Cup competition then to be run by the Six Nations committee.

Meanwhile the Welsh Rugby Union has offered to discuss the possibility of lending money to the disgruntled regions to cover the shortfall.