Cooper could be playing for his club when Wales face Australia

The row over player release in Wales has taken a new twist.

Wales' regions are to complain to the International Rugby Board alleging the Welsh Rugby Union has not consulted them over new player release proposals.

The WRU has until Friday 7 November to reply to the IRB and Regional Rugby Wales chief David Moffett said: "We will now be making a formal complaint."

A WRU spokesman said: "The relevant documentation was sent to the Regions on Monday 3 November."

RRW claims the WRU was asked to conduct a "wide-ranging consultation" over the proposals.

A RRW statement read: "The WRU failed to raise the issue with the Welsh regions at all and only confessed to the existence of the correspondence following an intervention by the regions at last week's WRU board meeting.

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RRW interim chief executive Moffett said: "Regulation nine is, without doubt, the single issue of greatest significance to northern hemisphere rugby today.

"It was the door that allowed the WRU to take the Welsh regions to court to demand additional release of their players.

"And it's the same door the PRL (Guinness Premiership representative body Premier Rugby Limited) have shut on the WRU as, under the regulation, they cannot be compelled to release players for a fourth autumn international."

Last month the WRU won a High Court order compelling the nation's four regions to release their Wales squad members to train under Gatland ahead of Saturday's autumn Tests opener against South Africa.

Wales could be without leading scrum-halves against Australia on 29 November as Sale's Dwayne Peel and Gareth Cooper of Gloucester could be involved in Guinness Premiership games that weekend.

The 29 November clash falls outside the International Rugby Board window for autumn Tests and England's clubs have demanded their return that weekend.

A WRU spokesman said: "In September 2008 the issue was discussed at a Professional Rugby Board meeting of WRU and representatives of the four regions when player-insurance cover was debated.

"The issue of consultation over the amendments was discussed at the WRU Board meeting on Thursday 30 October following which the relevant documentation was sent to the regions on Monday 3 November.

"The regions informed the WRU they would make submissions before the Friday deadline and the WRU is now awaiting that response."

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