Euro competition appears set to disintegrate further with England’s clubs confident the Welsh regions will join them next season.

Premiership Rugby has nine vacant weekends to fill for 2014-15 after announcing last week that the 12 Premiership teams would not participate in the Heineken Cup.

It is expected that the four Welsh regions will sign up to a cross-border competition with their English counterparts.

Whether that takes the shape of an enlarged Premiership is undecided with the prospect of promotion and relegation a potential sticking point for the Ospreys, Blues, Scarlets and Dragons.

The Welsh regions would also want assurances that should they withdraw from the RaboDirect PRO12 and Heine-ken Cup, it would be for a long-term alternative.

The quartet are holding talks with the Welsh Rugby Union this week and are prepared to take legal action against any attempt to prevent them from joining a cross-border competition.

Should they exit the Hei-neken Cup, only Irish, Scottish, French and Italian teams would be left in the devalued tournament.

There is a view among the Premiership clubs that the Welsh are their natural partners and ties at boardroom level are close.

The prospect of linking up with South African provinces for 2014-15 is attractive but the far more likely option since the Rugby Champions Cup was abandoned will involve the Welsh.