England's top clubs, as expected, are set to dominate the new set-up of two 12-division teams, which is scheduled to be launched next November.

Glanmor Griffiths, who chairs the home unions' British League working party, revealed a skeleton outline of how the revolutionary new competition could look.

It is likely to incorporate two divisions, one dominated by English Premiership sides plus the best Welsh teams, and the other made up of clubs from the three Celtic countries of Wales, Scotland and Ireland.

Each division would have its own winner and all 24 clubs would take part in a British League Cup.

But Welsh Rugby Union chairman Griffiths stressed there was still much negotiating to be done before the new league could be finalised.

And he admitted the problems of promotion and relegation could prove particularly difficult to overcome.

"The structure we are currently looking at is for two parallel divisions, with probably 12 teams in each," said Griffiths.

"One could be mainly English clubs, with perhaps two Welsh representatives, while the other division would probably be Celtic-based, plus possibly two English clubs.

"I will be discussing this with the Celtic nations in Dublin next week, when the Rugby Football Union and English First Division Rugby will be meeting in England to finalise their respective proposals.

"On December 16 all parties will be brought together to finalise a structure, with January 31 as the deadline for structures, sponsorship and broadcasting rights to be finalised and the league launched."

Welsh clubs fight for fourth spot

Four clubs from Wales are expected to join the league.

The WRU has now laid down target areas for their fourth proposed super club to meet in order for possible British League entry.

Cardiff, Llanelli and Pontypridd are favourites to secure prized places in the league, while it is understood Swansea and Newport could be battling it out for the one remaining spot.

"Legal status, ownership, profile, coaching and development structures, catchment and geography, facilities and management are areas in which the clubs will have to satisfy the Union of it's right to be classified as elite," said WRU secretary Dennis Gethin.

All eight Welsh Premier Division clubs, plus rebels Cardiff and Swansea, have been invited to put in bids for such status next season.