THE Welsh regions are staying tight-lipped following the Welsh Rugby Union's calls for a meeting to discuss the prospect of introducing central contracts.
Regional Rugby Wales (RRW), the body which represents the Ospreys, Scarlets, Dragons and Blues, has yet to issue a response to the WRU's statement on Tuesday morning.
The regions are understood to be unwilling to negotiate central contracts under the current conditions, as they are unhappy with their funding from the WRU and the prospect of losing control of their players to the union.
The regions are, however, eager to address the full board of the WRU in order to decide on the most effective way of keeping their leading players in Wales.
The WRU's request for a meeting comes amid an acrimonious dispute between the union and the regions.
On Sunday, the governing body accused the Scarlets of trying to sell Wales wing George North to Northampton, before the Llanelli region and RRW hit back with a strongly-worded riposte.
In its initial response to what it described as the WRU's "staggering" statement on Sunday, RRW said it would take its time before making an announcement on central contacts.
A RRW statement read: "There are a number of significant comments made within the WRU statement, that the four regions will now need to consider very seriously and with the appropriate amount of time and discussion before making a full and united response.
"The Professional Regional Game Board (PRGB) was proposed to ensure that Welsh rugby had a joint collaborative body, with an independent chairman, with the remit and authority to find solutions for some of the issues affecting Welsh rugby.
"Had the PRGB been implemented as originally agreed by the WRU, it would be addressing the exact issues that it has now raised in its statement including the important objective of how best to retain Welsh players like George North."
Regional Rugby Wales (RRW), the body which represents the Ospreys, Scarlets, Dragons and Blues, has yet to issue a response to the WRU's statement on Tuesday morning.
The regions are understood to be unwilling to negotiate central contracts under the current conditions, as they are unhappy with their funding from the WRU and the prospect of losing control of their players to the union.
The regions are, however, eager to address the full board of the WRU in order to decide on the most effective way of keeping their leading players in Wales.
The WRU's request for a meeting comes amid an acrimonious dispute between the union and the regions.
On Sunday, the governing body accused the Scarlets of trying to sell Wales wing George North to Northampton, before the Llanelli region and RRW hit back with a strongly-worded riposte.
In its initial response to what it described as the WRU's "staggering" statement on Sunday, RRW said it would take its time before making an announcement on central contacts.
A RRW statement read: "There are a number of significant comments made within the WRU statement, that the four regions will now need to consider very seriously and with the appropriate amount of time and discussion before making a full and united response.
"The Professional Regional Game Board (PRGB) was proposed to ensure that Welsh rugby had a joint collaborative body, with an independent chairman, with the remit and authority to find solutions for some of the issues affecting Welsh rugby.
"Had the PRGB been implemented as originally agreed by the WRU, it would be addressing the exact issues that it has now raised in its statement including the important objective of how best to retain Welsh players like George North."
