Celtic League crisis: The sundering of the Celtic League accord and the initial intransigence of the protagonists, on the one hand the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) and the Scottish Rugby Union (SRU) and in the opposite corner the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU), guarantees a disquieting short-term future at the very least. John O'Sullivan reports

The recriminations are already flying across the Irish Sea with WRU chief executive David Moffett using words like "childish" and "immature" to describe the stance taken by the Scottish and Irish rugby unions. One word tends to borrow another and in the present climate there is a very real need for moderation in all things, especially vocabulary.

In some respects the issue is not about right and wrong but in finding a resolution for the current impasse that is financially ruinous to all concerned. There was little softening of attitudes yesterday as the four professional regional sides in Wales, the Cardiff Blues, Llanelli Scarlets, Neath-Swansea Ospreys and Gwent Dragons, issued a statement in support of the WRU.

They agreed that the Welsh union had made the right decision to support the Anglo-Welsh Cup, which they want to be played alongside the Celtic League in 2005/6.

The WRU intimated they would make concessions with regard to dates, but the amended document is akin to "shuffling the deckchairs on the Titanic"; on its present course the ship's still going down.

The IRFU and the SRU are not willing to negotiate on the issue of playing Celtic League matches on the weekends of international fixtures. At a meeting in Cardiff yesterday, officials from the Welsh regional sides tried to at least sound conciliatory. Llanelli Scarlets chief executive Stuart Gallacher pointed out: "We are committed to the Celtic League, but by adding the Anglo-Welsh Cup, we believe we are delivering the fixture list that people want to see.

"Their (the Irish and Scots) decision could spell the death knell for professional rugby in the three Celtic countries."

Gallacher's words were endorsed by Cardiff Blues chief executive Robert Norster who added: "We will try to be conciliatory to our Celtic League partners, (as) we want the tournament to continue."

WRU chairman David Pickering was less circumspect and conciliatory, adamant that the stance taken by the IRFU and SRU was "short-sighted".

"We're still fully prepared to play in the Celtic League and hope common sense will prevail. The players and fans would rather see all three nations involved.

"There are a lot of emotions involved and that's a pity, it clearly makes more sense to play 20 games rather than the 12 proposed in the new Scottish-Irish league. It also makes sense to include teams from the country that has just won the Grand Slam."

The last comment won't do much to broker agreement and smacks of a touch or arrogance.

Premier Rugby, the organisation that represents England's top-flight clubs, said in a statement: "The Anglo-Welsh tournament was borne out of a desire to renew traditional rivalries. Premier Rugby is shocked and disappointed at reports that the Welsh regions may be expelled from the Celtic League.

"Premier Rugby has always been supportive of a strong and vibrant Celtic League and we feel this would be very difficult to achieve without the presence of the Welsh Regions."

Last season 78,000 supporters attended matches in Ireland between Welsh and Irish sides in the Celtic League. Taking a figure of say €15 per person for admission, that meant €1,170,000 was generated - it will be lost - from gate receipts alone.

Factor in everyone spending €10 in the bar or on food inside the ground and that's another €780,000. These figures are conservative estimates and reflect just the games in Ireland between Welsh and Ireland sides but do serve to illustrate the serious nature of the current stand-off.

There is also the Celtic League television deal involving BBC and its regional stations, S4C and Setanta, reputed to be worth about €7 million, of which the latter are believed to have invested £2.5 million.

Setanta could well decide that the French Championship - it's hugely popular with viewers - is less volatile and troublesome and move their financial input away from the Celtic League.

The Celtic League has never had a title sponsor and as things stand no one is likely to touch it with a goalpost: internal strife, the possibility of very little television exposure and no long-term fixture schedule.

The three constituents have to find a resolution.

Llanelli have held back releasing ticket prices, but the Irish provinces have already pre-sold season tickets. The Newport Gwent Dragons are currently advertising on their website offering stand season tickets at £230. In the current climate they may not get as many takers as they would expect.

Moffett and IRFU chief executive Philip Browne agreed to keep the lines of communication open after Monday's pivotal meeting. They'll need to act quickly.