More talks are planned with Welsh rugby club owners next week following a day which saw confusion continue over plans to restructure the game in Wales.

Earlier today, two of the nation's top clubs withdrew support for a plan to consolidate teams and create five superclubs, which was proposed by clubs on Thursday evening.

After a tumultuous meeting at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on Thursday night, it appeared that the nine Premier clubs had acceded to the biggest shake-up ever in the structure of the game.

The state of the stadium's pitch has been criticised

However, rather than accept a plan being pushed by chief executive of the WRU, David Moffett, top clubs put forward rival consolidation plans.

Mr Moffett, who took over at the top of the WRU only last month, had wanted to merge teams to create four provinces, but the Premier clubs countered with a proposal to create five superclubs.

Their plan would see Llanelli standing alone. The other teams would comprise: Cardiff; Swansea and Neath; Bridgend and Pontypridd; and Newport and Ebbw Vale.

It was suggested that Caerphilly might join Cardiff.

The final shape of the game is due to be put to a vote on 23 February at an extraordinary general meeting of every Welsh club.

Whether the smaller clubs will support consolidation is not clear.

We agree that the clock is ticking, for change and something has to be done, but it must be right Leighton Samuel

Both plans would spell the end of longstanding and well-supported teams.

Neath and Bridgend have said an earlier deal reached between themselves to merge was still on their agenda.

During a press conference, Bridgend backer Leighton Samuel and Neath team administrator Mike Cuddy both rejected a suggestion the plan was off.

The ownership of Neath - bailed out of trouble by the WRU five years ago - has played a part in the confusion.

A consortium has agreed to buy back the club.

"We have done that because we want a say in the future direction of Neath's RFC," said Mr Cuddy. "It is galling that the Welsh Rugby Union and Mr Moffett believe they own the club.

Perception

"We need a say in what's going on, that must be clarified."

If the club's five-team option is scuppered, it is believed the union may press ahead with Mr Moffett's proposal.

Leighton Samuel said various criteria would have to be met before that could be considered, particularly in regards to funding.

"We agree that the clock is ticking, for change and something has to be done, but it must be right.

"There is a lot to consider here and I am disappointed that the public perception now may well be that the Bridgend-Neath merger is off the agenda - it definitely is not."

Meeting

The next stage in this reform process is set to be on 23 January, when there will be another meeting of the WRU's general committee, where one of the two options is to be chosen.

Then a month later on 23 February at the extraordinary general meeting all 239 member clubs will hold an up and down vote on the proposal.

This will come just 24 hours after the England-Wales match in the Six Nations championship.

"The clock is ticking - we have put a line in the sand," Moffett said on Thursday night.

"This time next week, we intend to put a recommendation to the general committee," he said.