WRU boss Roger Lewis says he regrets the Celtic Warriors' demise

Plans to launch a development region in north Wales have been unveiled by the Welsh Rugby Union.

A working party has been set up to see how the new team - Gogledd Cymru - can best be established within two years.

One idea is to play against development sides set up by the four regions and another is to play in the Premiership.

WRU group chief executive Roger Lewis said: "Wales is a small nation, needs every potential international player to be recognised and fully developed."

These options are just two of a number of ideas being considered and discussions will take place with all the rugby stakeholders in Wales.

The working party will report back in six months on how and when to introduce the new representative team to competition.

It will will also look at the funding of the new side and the structure needed to make it successful.

606: DEBATE North Wales has to be the front runner for a fifth Welsh region redrugbyexile

"We want to label north Wales as a development region to ensure everyone understands our total commitment to nurturing all available talent there in the most appropriate and meaningful way," said Lewis.

The Union's decision to cull the Celtic Warriors in 2004 remains hugely controversial in Wales.

The issue has remained the hottest of topics in Welsh rugby since then-WRU boss David Moffett oversaw the demise of the Warriors side.

That move left the valleys hotbed without a fully professional team and alienated many supporters.

The WRU claimed at the time that Wales could not support five teams, neither financially nor with playing talent.

But last week Wales coach Warren Gatland told BBC Radio Wales' Sportstime show that he would welcome a fifth region to increase competition for national places.

"It's something that we and the WRU have got to consider," he said.