Although the Magners League fixtures are being finalised, it is certain some games will be played before and during world rugby's showpiece tournament.

The regions are thought to want �30,000 per player in compensation - the same amount that English clubs are seeking.

That would leave the WRU with a bill of almost �900,000.

The players selected for the World Cup will definitely be unavailable to the regions for at least two months.

That could increase to three months if Wales make it through the group stages and into the knock-out stage.

The players will first gather on 21 July for a week-long training camp to prepare for the warm-up match against England on 4 August, after which the squad will be cut to 30.

Wales's first group match will be against Canada on 9 September, with a game against Fiji ending their group campaign 20 days later.

The quarter-finals will be played on 6 and 7 October, the semi-finals a week later and the final on 20 October.

The opening fixtures of the Magners League season are expected to be on the first weekend of September.

Of the four Welsh regions, the Ospreys will be hit hardest by World Cup commitments, with as many as 15 players selected in the Wales squad.