THE Welsh Rugby Union were today meeting to discuss whether extra funding can be made available to the top clubs, but the threat of a players' strike over the issue has been removed.

Five major owners, including Newport's Tony Brown, met WRU chairman Glanmor Griffiths yesterday after a meeting of the league management board.

The owners spelled out the need for extra funding, especially given the amount the English clubs receive.

The Union's general committee meet later today, and though there is an urgent need for more money, there will be no threat of withdrawing Wales players ahead of the England game this month.

"Looking at the funding available to the English clubs, we are the poor relations in Wales and we want to redress the balance," said Brown. "There was a degree of sympathy at our meeting and I hope it hasn't fallen on deaf ears.

"We tried to reinforce our position that if Welsh rugby is to move forward there will have to be a degree of understanding between us."

The proposals by the so-called gang-of-six are still on the table, though progress has been limited.

Much the same applies to the Celtic League with Ireland agreeing at this week's meeting only to consider fresh proposals in 2004.

So it is difficult to imagine where any other revenue generating fixtures can come from for the cash-strapped Welsh clubs.

Ireland don't want a full-blown Celtic League yet, the future of Scottish teams is uncertain, if they are of any value in the first place, and the English clubs are locked into an 8-year agreement.