IRFU sources last night played down reports emanating from Wales that negotiations to revive a Celtic league involving Irish sides had been renewed.

On the eve of the first Welsh-Scottish League fixture between Glasgow Caledonians and Pontypridd tomorrow, Welsh Rugby Union technical committee chairman Geoff Evans said: "Negotiations with Ireland are at an early stage but we know, as do the Scots, that this will be a precursor of a competition which may involve England eventually," said Evans.

However the IRFU press officer, John Redmond, pointed out that any discussions were merely a continuation of an agreement reached a year ago when hasty proposals for an abortive British and Irish League fell through.

"We asked then to be kept in touch with any developments and that's all that has happened. No firm proposals have been put to us and the difficulties we cited at the time remain, namely where in the calendar could we fit in additional fixtures."