EVERY few months supporters of Premier League football teams have withdrawal symptoms on a Saturday night, suffering a large void in their television viewing schedule courtesy of an international break.

They wouldn't fare well as fans of clubs in the Swalec Leagues.

The Championship and below cranks back into gear on Saturday after five weeks of inactivity.

They have been kicking their heels while Sam Warburton & Co took centre stage and no doubt there are pockets of players and officials who enjoy a break that enables them to devote all their attention to the national team.

But there are many who are left wanting their hit of club rugby while those with responsibility for the balance sheet break into a cold sweat in November, their worries exacerbated if there are predictions of a December cold snap.

Hopefully the Ben Francis Cup, which has returned after a three-year absence, can keep things ticking over for some Monmouthshire clubs but the structure of Welsh rugby will ensure that only the strongest survive.

The schedule is just as bizarre in the Principality Premiership with Newport, Bedwas and Ebbw Vale all without action until December 20 while Cross Keys haven't had a week off since August 30 courtesy of qualifying for the British and Irish Cup.

What those clubs would give for a Saturday routine similar to the one enjoyed by Match of the Day host Gary Lineker.

SOME criticism followed when I wrote in October that perhaps the way forward for the British and Irish Cup was to go the whole hog and have regional A teams.

Some barbs were directed towards Cornish Pirates coach Ian Davies on social media when he expressed a similar view.

The last few weeks has cemented my belief that the current situation is unsatisfactory.

It's better for Cross Keys to be in it than spending a month on the sidelines like their Gwent Premiership rivals and they do need some Dragons influence in order to compete against professional sides.

But there have been too many regional players involved with 'Keys' in recent weeks and it was strange to see some of their regulars having a pint or two in the clubhouse at their game against the Pirates last Friday rather than watching the action.

The starting XV featured six players who line up for the club in the Premiership and that core have led the charge to earn a terrific win at Bedford and push Doncaster and the Pirates all the way.

But don't tell me that the 2014/15 British and Irish Cup means half as much to the small but fiercely loyal Cross Keys faithful as previous campaigns.