Welsh Rugby Union and regional teams in crisis talks over central contracts to avoid a player drain After a weekend of accusations and counter allegations, the WRU sent out a formal invitation to the regions on Monday morning, to meet and discuss the issue of centrally contracting its leading players. It is understood that a meeting could take place later this month. However, feelings between the two parties were once again running high despite a weekend when new ground was broken with the Millennium Stadium hosting the four regions on the same day for the first time. The domestic double-header was not only watched by a crowd of nearly 37,000, but the WRU confirmed that "Judgment Day" would have a permanent place in the calendar for the next four seasons at least. However, Saturday's celebration was tempered on Sunday morning by the Union's decision to issue a statement claiming its desire to give the public "the facts" after some critical reporting of its failure to keep leading players in Wales. In the statement, the WRU accused the Scarlets of trying to facilitate a possible move by Northampton Saints for their Wales wing George North and blamed the regions for the lack of progress made by the Professional Regional Game Board, a body set up at the tail end of last year under an independent chairman to find a way through the regions" financial problems. The board has yet to meet because of a failure to agree its terms of reference. The regions want the board to have the power to deal with any issue affecting the regional game, including the fourth international game played by Wales every autumn and commercial issues, such as the television deal for the RaboDirect Pro12. The regions responded to the statement, condemning it as a defensive reaction. Now, they are keen to answer the Union's request for a meeting by explaining their position in full later this month.