Llanelli fear they may be priced out of a deal with Richmond for the Wales number eight Scott Quinnell, despite agreeing personal terms with the player.

Richmond put Quinnell on the transfer market last week even though Llanelli had spent a month conducting secret negotiations with the club and with Quinnell, who left the Scarlets for Wigan in 1994.

Richmond are looking for £150,000 for Quinnell, who has two years left on his contract but who wants to leave Richmond because his wife, who is expecting the couple's third child next month, is homesick.

Llanelli are worried that Richmond will increase the asking price because Cardiff are showing an interest in Quinnell, though both clubs say they would need help from the Welsh Rugby Union to bring the player back to Wales.

Cardiff are unlikely to receive any assistance from the WRU because they are this week signing the St Helens and Great Britain wing Anthony Sullivan on a loan deal which the WRU is helping to finance.