David Moffett says the WRU must save �1m per year

England coach Clive Woodward has attacked Welsh rugby chiefs over the decision to axe the Wales A side.

The team has played matches for the last 33 years, but new chief executive David Moffett wants to make annual cuts of �1m.

The decision could save the Welsh Rugby Union around �170,000.

Woodward has voiced his opposition to the move and warned that Wales could struggle in future years if they do not prepare players for top flight rugby.

"I'd be very disappointed if this happened," Woodward told the Guardian newspaper.

"The A games are a good development tool for the Six Nations countries, and this seems to be taking things in the wrong direction."

It's not all doom and gloom because there'll be an A tour to Fiji Wales coach Steve Hansen

But the WRU's plans to scrap the Wales A team could be yet be scuppered by the other home nations.

They may insist on Wales fulfilling their fixtures this Spring.

The Scottish Rugby Union were planning to make their A game against Wales the first ever representative rugby game in Inverness.

They installed floodlights at the ground at the start of the season.

On Monday, Wales coach Steve Hansen revealed that the Wales A side will tour Fiji next year in place of the full national squad.

"It's important to make sure you have an A team - there's no doubt about that," Hansen told BBC Wales Sport.

"But the circumstances have been explained to me and we've just got to accept this year that financially we can't afford to run one in the Six Nations.

"But it's not all doom and gloom because there'll be an A tour to Fiji which will take the place of the national team."

He added: "We're not in good shape financially so some things have to go.

"No-one wants to have an A team more than myself, but we've just got to accept we won't have one this season."

Wales A coach Mike Ruddock admitted he is "gutted" by the decision to scrap the team.