Welsh regional teams will not be signing extension to participation agreement with WRU

Fans protest before kick off of the game between Scarlets and Ospreys. The four Welsh regional teams have confirmed that they would not sign an extension to their participation agreement with the national governing body (REX/Huw Evans Agency)

The four Welsh regional teams – Cardiff Blues, Newport-Gwent Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets – have confirmed that they would not sign an extension to their participation agreement with the national governing body. They also warned that without a speedy solution to the long-running row over the Heineken Cup and on the future of the domestic Pro 12 tournament, they would "pursue further competition options".

The most attractive of these would be a link-up with the top-flight English clubs in an expanded Premiership.

Gloucester's Fijian back-row forward Akapusi Qera was granted early release from his contract to make an immediate switch to Toulouse, who will pay the Kingsholm club a transfer fee.