WELSH representation in next season's British and Irish Cup will be on the agenda at a meeting of the Principality Premiership clubs on Tuesday evening – with a warning from the league's sponsors ringing in their ears.

A row erupted last month when Pontypridd were angered by a proposal to change from one club from each region in the cross-border competition to the professional sides entering A teams.

Ponty chief executive Steve Reardon labelled the move a "conspiracy" and told the BBC: "We have an undeniable argument to continue to represent Wales in the British and Irish Cup and we are sadly disappointed that the regions have conspired to usurp the tournament from the Premiership clubs.

"It's very poor form, it's inconsiderate and disrespectful that they have sprung this on the Premiership clubs."

Welsh Rugby Union chairman Gareth Davies responded by stating that the changes were intended to bridge the gap between Premiership and full-time rugby for burgeoning academy talent.

The spat hasn't gone down well with the Principality Building Society, who have sponsored the Premiership since 2005 and have committed to backing the league in 2015/16.

In his speech at the annual league awards, chief executive Graeme Yorston expressed his dissatisfaction at the way the company's name was being associated with the row and urged all parties to conduct their business swiftly and behind closed doors rather than playing the matter out in public.

There was a meeting between Premiership officials and the Welsh Rugby Union last week, with Wales head coach Warren Gatland in attendance, and they will report to the clubs this evening.

There is a desire for the matter to be solved swiftly as the issue will have a knock-on effect on the rest of the league.

The current format – with regional qualifiers taking place in August – leaves eight clubs with huge holes in their fixture list.

In the long term, and if there is a shift to A sides in the British and Irish Cup, that could be solved by increasing the size of the Premiership.

It is possible that for the coming season four 'Regional Premiership Select' teams will be fielded comprising of full-timers, academy talent and promising club players.

While Ponty have been angered by the move for the professional quartet to take over control of the BIC there has been little uproar elsewhere, a situation shaped in Gwent by a slightly farcical 2014/15.

Cross Keys won the qualifying tournament against Newport, Bedwas and Ebbw Vale but all sides had already agreed to a heavy Dragons influence.

That led to regional coaches taking key roles in the management team and an influx of full-time players at the expense of regulars for clashes with Bedford, Doncaster and Cornish Pirates.

Newport rearranged Premiership fixtures and were subsequently left without their Dragons academy contingent, including influential captain Ollie Griffiths.

Nonetheless, the tournament has provided some memorable highs – Keys are the only Welsh side to have made the final, beaten by Munster A in Cork in 2012, while in the formative years of the competition the Black and Ambers enjoyed superb wins against Leinster A in Dublin, Exeter and the Pirates.