Mark McCafferty hasn't denied holding the meeting but says there's not much to read into it:
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>
"The talk of an Anglo-Welsh league has been overblown. I was down at Swansea over the weekend and I had informal talks," he said.
"They said they have exactly the same issues with the irregularity of fixtures in the Magners League as we do in the Premiership. They go weeks on end without a home fixture.
"People talk about the Welsh clubs joining us all the time but I don't see that happening.
"The Magners League is a tripartite agreement between the Scots, Irish and Welsh. I don't see them leaving that as being feasible.
"It wouldn't be good for northern hemisphere rugby - it would weaken the situation in Scotland and Ireland.
"That's not something we want to do - we want to build up club rugby, not do the opposite.
"I would discount the idea of an Anglo-Welsh league as a possibility for the immediate to mid-term future."[/b]
http://www.planetrugby.com/Story/0,18259,3...4853002,00.html
I'm not quite so convinced. As the article in the Scotsman claims, it was David Moffett who met with him. Until I read Moffett was involved, I thought it was a nothing story. Moffett upon leaving his post as chief executive of the WRU was quoted by the BBC on his thoughts about the future of the game:
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>
Despite his frustrations, Moffett says he leaves his post with three great memories - Wales' Grand Slam triumph, the successful management of the WRU's vast debt, and Saturday's 24-22 victory over Australia. [/b]
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_unio...nal/4477654.stm
I've highlighted the bit I find relevant. A couple of years back, Premier Rugby Ltd and the Top 14 clubs representative body criticised the ERC for not generating enough money from the tournament. They both wanted a seat in negotiating broadcasting rights. Perhaps, and this is where I'm guessing, McCafferty realises that bringing the Welsh clubs into the Premiership will force the IRFU and SRU to row in too - the Magners League won't be strong enough without the Welsh sides. Moffett clearly realises this too.
If Premier Rugby Ltd controls rugby in the British Isles, there will essentially only be two pro leagues in Europe - the Top 14 and the Premiership. Would this be the beginning of a European League, co-operated by Premier Rugby Ltd, the Top 14 and the ERC which is Moffett's goal? It would be a roundabout way of achieving his goal but Moffett also achieved his goal of 4 Welsh regions in a roundabout way.
The iRB won't allow an Anglo-Welsh League form unless they view it's for the good of European rugby. On it's own, without any Scottish, Irish or possibly Italian involvement, the plan will be vetoed.
As for the Scots vetoing Italian involvement in the ML, I think it's a bargaining chip. Their wish to keep HC qualification on a country by country basis will remain if they withdraw their opposition to Italian teams in the ML. If a couple of Italian teams bring added funding to the ML (above the cost of two extra games), we'll see new teams in the tournament next year.
