Wales may have more chances to celebrate - or commiserate - in future

The Welsh Rugby Union want to increase Wales' annual Test matches played from 11 to 13 as they seek more money to fund the new deal with their regions.

Increased funding to the four regions will cost the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) an extra basic £2.4m per season.

WRU boss Roger Lewis told BBC Sport Wales: "We've managed, within the heart of the agreement, to commit to some 13 internationals [per season]."

But Lewis says players will not face an overall increase in games they play.

He says the WRU will seek more games to add to the regular four played each November, five Six Nations game and traditional two summer tour Tests.

That could mean extra Test matches played on tour or additional games at the Millennium Stadium, albeit plans for Rugby World Cup years will continue to be curtailed by the global competition's impact on fixtures.

Lewis added: "An opportunity [exists] to generate more money through the game through a winning international side.

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"However, I would emphasise we are not going to put more demands on the players because we've capped player time through the season to a maximum of some 32 games."

Cardiff Blues, the Ospreys, Scarlets and Newport Gwent Dragons play a minimum 24 games between the Magners League (18) and Heineken Cup (six pool games).

In the event of a team going to the final of the Magners League play-offs and Heineken Cup, first-choice players could be expected to play five more games.

But star players are unlikely to be involved in the Anglo-Welsh EDF Energy Cup (minimum four pool games, plus two knock-out games) as matches largely take place during the autumn and Six Nations Test windows.

With a potential 13 Test matches to be played, Wales coach Warren Gatland's stars could be available for as few as 19 regional games in each of the coming five seasons.

The £2.4m additional core funding to Regional Rugby Wales takes the annual basic total shared between Cardiff Blues, the Ospreys, Scarlets and Newport Gwent Dragons to £6m.

But the money will only be paid if the regions hit the target of an average 17 Welsh-qualified players in competitive match squads.

Lewis said: "We want to pay out the full amount because at the heart of this is this commitment to develop Welsh talent so we want to pay out the full amount.

The shared ambition is winning Welsh regions, brimming full of Welsh talent Roger Lewis

"But it's not an open cheque book. There has to be deliverables and the deliverables are all centred around Welsh players playing their rugby in Wales with the Welsh regions and then playing for Wales on the international stage."

Lewis says if any region fails to reach its target they would be denied the financial rewards on offer.

He added: "There's a formula in place that the reward would not go forward and of course the regions are building their financial models now on the opportunity to maximise the money that's on the table.

"So they need to structure their squads. They need to structure their business in a manner which achieves the full amount that's available to them."

Lewis says the deal, although long in the making, has been worth the effort.

He added: "It's been a robust debate over two years - and a very eventful two years.

"But I think what has been achieved over the last few weeks and I should say probably the last few months is a sharp focus on what's required.

"And both sides have given and given in to this. There's been a good compromise on both sides.

"I think there's been a true sense of desire for win-win. I think the manner in which the negotiations have been conducted over the past few weeks in particular have been very, very positive.

"And I think there was a shared ambition. The shared ambition is winning Welsh regions, brimming full of Welsh talent."

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