The Welsh Rugby Union's plans for a rugby charter are faltering in an argument over the legal and financial position of the Newport Gwent Dragons. The Dragons are the only region yet to agree to sign up, saying the Union is not paying them their agreed funds.
As a region formed by the union of two clubs, Ebbw Vale and Newport, the Dragons were promised more funds than stand-alone sides Cardiff and Llanelli.
The WRU sees the Dragons as a stand-alone team since Ebbw Vale pulled out.
"At the beginning of last season it was agreed that the regional sides would receive around �400,000 more funding than stand-alone clubs," Dragons benefactor and board member Tony Brown told BBC Sport Wales.
"The WRU have to decide if we are now a region or a stand-alone club. "If they are saying that we should receive the same money as Cardiff [Blues] and Llanelli [Scarlets] then we are saying that we should be regarded as a stand-alone club.
"Our costings and business plans have been put together on the basis that we are being funded as a region.
"We hope that things can be resolved fairly quickly, anything is possible with communication and goodwill from both sides."
The issue is complicated by the fact that the only board members of the Dragons currently come from the Newport club.
The Dragons' board was originally made up of two members from Newport and two from Ebbw Vale.
When Ebbw withdrew from the region they gave their 50% shares in the region to the WRU who appointed two of its own board members.
These have since left the board, but Brown says this is a matter for the Union.
"Their two directors resigned and they appointed no-one in their place, but the Union still own 50% of the region," said Brown.
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We hope that things can be resolved fairly quickly 
