The Welsh Rugby Union has held discussions with the Rugby Football Union over the prospect of Championship club Ealing Trailfinders taking the place of Wales’ axed professional side in the United Rugby Championship, WalesOnline has learnt.

These talks come amid growing uncertainty over the future shape of the professional game in Wales, with the WRU still committed to reducing the number of clubs from four to three.

A potential barrier to this plan has long been the URC’s need to find a replacement for the Welsh side that eventually gets cut.

Initially, URC bosses were keen on an American side joining for big money but this move was blocked by the South African Rugby Union, which is now a full shareholder in the competition.

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The WRU is committed to retaining four clubs for the next two years but has served notice on PRA 25 to both Cardiff and the Dragons, while only offering a two-year contract to the Ospreys and Scarlets with the long-term aim of reducing to three sides.

If the WRU enters just three teams in the URC instead of the four it is contracted to do so, the cost to the WRU could be around £7m in fines and other costs if no replacement is lined up.

English Championship outfit Ealing Trailfinders and former Gallagher Prem outfit London Irish have long been mooted as potential solutions.

WalesOnline understands London Irish are now focused on returning to the Gallagher Prem when it expands in 2028 rather than the URC.

But Ealing, who dominated the Championship for years before losing to Worcester Warriors in this season’s semi-final, have continually been denied promotion to the Gallagher Prem because the club’s home ground does not meet PRL’s minimum standards criteria.

For Ealing to leave the English system and join the URC, it would need permission from the RFU. This has seemed unlikely to be granted but there could be a restraint of trade argument if the RFU refuses. The taks between the WRU and the RFU are certainly an interesting development.

WalesOnline understands some elements of the URC are keen for a London-based side to enter the competition but both the Irish Rugby Football Union and SARU are against it.

For such a seismic move to happen all shareholders would have to agree.

If a replacement is not found, reducing to three teams becomes an even tougher challenge.

As things stand the WRU remains committed to its original plan for three teams with the three licences based in east, central and west Wales.

The WRU has promised to announce a plan to get down to three teams by the end of this month but there is a strong chance they will have to put the licences out to tender.

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