FOUR regional teams -- that could now be the future for Welsh rugby at Heineken Cup and Celtic League level.

The Welsh Rugby Union and leading clubs are holding urgent meetings to discuss the way ahead and there could be a decision by December.

And that decision could be implemented as early as next season. WRU chief Glanmor Griffiths insisted yesterday that after the working party have come to a conclusion and put that before the general committee, it is the clubs as a whole who will decide on the future.

It is accepted the 200-plus clubs will throw out any plan to make it four or five super teams but will accept regional or district rugby at the top end.

And the two WRU representatives on the working party are Griffiths and former Pontypool and Wales captain Terry Cobner, a known advocate of district rugby.

It is understood that the number of teams could well be cut to just four, with one from Gwent.

If that is to be accepted a lot will depend on the name given to the side, and even then there will be major questions such as where will they play? Who will be the coach? What happens to existing player contracts?

"We must adapt to the ever changing face of professional rugby union if we are to remain a competitive and credible force on the international and club stages," said Griffiths in a statement.

"The biggest challenge we now face is to present to the membership a positive plan for the future of the game in Wales at professional, semi-professional and community levels so that each section can move forward.

"The working party has already held discussions with our broadcast partners, other interested commercial partners and our legal advisers."

In a sign that Griffiths wants to keep benefactors like Newport's owner Tony Brown on board, he says: "We plan to meet urgently representatives from all the premier division clubs and those people who have invested heavily in some of them.

"We very much want to keep those investors in the game if they wish to continue their involvement.

"We will look at the way forward with our current clubs, consider regional or provincial rugby and thoroughly investigate all possible options before offering to the membership the best route to take.

"These are times of rapid change in professional sport. What we need in Welsh rugby is positive change."