GWENT is set to be represented by a Dragons Premiership XV in next season's British and Irish Cup.

The region has previously been represented by club sides – the highest-placed finisher or winners of a pre-season qualifying tournament – but that will change in 2015/16, as it will in the other three regions.

The fine details are yet to be thrashed out but it looks likely that there will be a team comprising of Dragons fringe players, academy talent placed at Ebbw Vale, Cross Keys, Bedwas and Newport and the quartet's leading individuals.

It is a step towards A team rugby and ideas put forward are that they can play at Eugene Cross Park, Pandy Park and Bridge Field and that, like the Barbarians, they could wear the socks of the club that they represent in the league.

In truth, it is hardly a seismic shift as in 2014/15 Cross Keys represented Gwent but academy talent was parachuted in from other Premiership clubs along with senior Dragons players in need of game time while regional academy coaches James Chapron and Shaun Connor took key roles in the management team.

The Principality Premiership clubs met in Port Talbot on Tuesday evening and there are largely no qualms with the proposed change.

The only ones who will be angered by the development – which is designed to give burgeoning talent the chance to lock horns with professional players – are Pontypridd.

The league champions have already expressed their anger at the move and want to compete in the tournament under their own name.

Ponty chief executive Steve Reardon said: "It's very poor form, it's inconsiderate and disrespectful that they have sprung this on the Premiership clubs."

But the feeling from clubs in the Ospreys, Scarlets and Dragons regions is that it is a matter for the men from Sardis Road, who last season were further bolstered for the tournament by a number of full-time regional players, to thrash out with Cardiff Blues.

It is highly unlikely, however, that Ponty will get their own way.

Further discussions are also planned on increasing the size of the Principality Premiership from its current 12-team format.