WRU boss Roger Lewis met the regions at the Millennium Stadium

The Welsh Rugby Union say they have agreed with the four Welsh regions to cut the number of non-Welsh qualified players in their squad from June 2009.

The medium-term aim is to reduce that number to four "as soon as it is operationally possible".

This was part of a wide-ranging strategy agreed at a meeting of all parties in Cardiff on Friday.

"There's hard work ahead, but we all understand the aim of national success and growth," said WRU boss Roger Lewis.

606: DEBATE Great news, more talent getting developed, people like Halfpenny can get some game time taffage

Under a gentleman's agreement, last season the regions were allowed up to seven non-Welsh qualified players in World Cup year.

The issue continues to be a hot topic in Welsh rugby, with fears that young, developing Welsh talent is being blocked at the Blues, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets by players who cannot represent the national team.

The counter-claim is that top-quality overseas signings help to improve the players around them and that they are needed if the regions are to have any hope of competing with big-spending English, French and Irish sides in the Heineken Cup.

I am not sure such a goal can be achieved within three or four years Ospreys Elite Performance Director Andrew Hore

The WRU aim to agree a system of incentives, and rewards will be approved for regions which develop Welsh players and a "talent pathway".

"We will often need some foreign talent to boost our regions and offer our players the chance of learning from the best players in world rugby," said Lewis.

"But we also need to achieve a proper balance which allows Welsh players to pull on a regional shirt and flourish.

"The great thing is that our discussions going forward will be based on trust, respect and transparency. We will talk straight but talk true."

Scarlets Chief Executive Stuart Gallacher added: "We are all passionate about the need to deliver an agreement which is workable and fair for everyone involved.

Hore says that the likes of Marty Holah benefit the Welsh game

"We are all competitive people working in a professional rugby environment and while we want individual success for our regions we are all passionate about the Welsh jersey as well.

"It is going to be a tough slog to ensure this new agreement achieves all our aims but I am now confident we can do it, we have made a positive start."

But Andrew Hore, the Ospreys' Kiwi Elite Performance Director, has warned that Wales should not rush the reduction of overseas talent.

"The number of non-Welsh guys over here should be reduced, but I am not sure such a goal can be achieved within three or four years," he told the South Wales Evening Post.

"It is hugely important for Wales that the regions are reaching the later stages of European competitions, overseas people contribute significantly on that score.

"As regions we want to blood local talent. There are great participation rates at the age of 10, 11 and 12 but they drop off massively in the 15-16 age groups.

"We need to reverse that trend and make sure the interest and involvement is sustained through to the senior game."