PRINCIPALITY Premiership chairman and Cross Keys secretary Chris Clarke has hit back at Welsh rugby chief Gareth Davies over remarks he made while discussing the escalating British and Irish Cup row.

WRU chairman Davies has come under attack from clubs after he maintained the purpose of the semi-professional Premiership elite clubs is to produce players for the four regions and Wales and not for clubs to win the league year after year.

Clarke has shot back by claiming the league does underpin the regional structure and that all but one of the 12 players on dual national contract with Wales (New Zealand export Gareth Anscombe aside) were reared in the Premiership.

He said players like British and Irish Lions Taulupe Faletau and Alun Wyn Jones thrived after cutting their teeth in club rugby just as up-and-coming stars like Samson Lee, Hallam Amos and Tyler Morgan are doing in their wake.

Former international No 10 Davies, who left his job as Newport Gwent Dragons chief executive to replace David Pickering as WRU chairman last October, was speaking about the rumpus which has erupted over plans to replace Premiership clubs with Regional A teams in the cross-border British and Irish Cup competition for next season.

The thinking behind the planned shake-up is to bridge the gap between the Premiership and the four regional teams and improve the player development pathway.

When talking about the ruckus, the ex-Cardiff, Wales and Lions outside half said: "The only reason the Premiership exists is to produce players for the regions and for Wales. It's quite simple I think.

"That is why we fund it. We don't fund it for any of the clubs to win the league year after year.

"If the Welsh Rugby Union are investing £1.5 million in it, that's not just to perpetuate a competition, that's an investment into the next generation of players. It is going in for the future welfare of our game."

On the British and Irish Cup aspect, Clarke pointed out that his own side Keys, as well as Pontypridd and Llanelli, have performed respectably in the tournament in recent years.

He said: "The fact that Pontypridd has a bit of history in it and Cross Keys got to the final and Llanelli to the semi-final, with limited funding, against Irish regional development opposition and English Championship professional sides, are achievements which should be applauded.

Clarke added: "There are people who say the Premiership doesn't underpin the national game, but every dual registered player, apart from Gareth Anscombe who was cherry-picked from New Zealand, has played in the Premiership.

"What the Premiership brings to the party is a factor that is underestimated. It provides a meaningful structure to develop players.

"If you look at those who have come through the system like Toby Faletau and Alun Wyn Jones and those now like Hallam Amos, Tyler Morgan and Samson Lee, who was probably Wales' best player this season.

"To say the Premiership isn't playing it's part is simply not true.

"Premiership clubs are working hard to make sure players fulfil their ambitions."