With matches all over the shop in terms of kick off times, it’s hardly surprising that gates have rarely risen above five thousand, let alone the targeted eight thousand odd number.

Wales desperately needs a viable domestic game, that also makes it easier to step up to the Heineken cup, in a similar vein to the Guinness Premiership or pro 14 in France.

Well the signs are hardly ecstatic, with nearly all Celtic Lions missing until October at the earliest. The Powergen cup introduction will stretch Welsh resources even further, whether youngsters are blooded or foreigners are used as stop gaps will be quite decisive I feel.

There is however the Ospreys spanking new Morfa stadium, or whatever there calling it now, a ground that should see teams raise there game to play in.

Only two rounds of fixtures will clash with international weekends, a positive that does however draw on the over importance placed on international players, and the lack of identity and significance to draw punters through, irrespective of what internationals are playing, but then again the league is very nationalistic in it’s outlook. The ineffectual Celtic cup has been dropped, and will certainly not be missed.

The arrival of quality imports such as Xavier Rush, Marc Stcherbina with the Blues and Regan King, Mike Hercus with the Scarlets, whilst in Ireland Wallaby Justin Harrison has joined Ulster, as has Bok centre Trevor Halstead with Munster, will imprint a greater intensity in league matches.

This season all teams will be competing for European qualification, whether either the newly named Border Reivers or Connacht have the resources or political favour to displace the usual status quo in there countries is another question though.