Llanelli and Pontypridd will not be able to finalise their squads for Saturday's European Cup quarter-finals in France until this afternoon because of a dispute with the tournament's organisers ERC. The two clubs have appealed to be allowed to play players they have registered since the end of the group stage last month even though the eligibility deadline elapsed three months ago.

Llanelli, who are at Perpignan, want to be able to play Scott Quinnell, Byron Hayward and Salesi Finau while Pontypridd, who face Stade Francais, are hoping Tom Billups will be available.

"Welsh clubs have been given exemption from the September 12th deadline this season because of the Welsh Rugby Union's rule that its clubs could only register 28 players while sides like Leinster had 66," claimed the Llanelli chief executive Stuart Gallacher, one of ERC's eight directors.