Six Nations: Will residential rugby push take Wales' eyes from the prize?

It was going so well. Three diversions played, three amusements won - the last a radiant 21-13 triumph over resurgent England.

Be that as it may, days before the fourth leg of a potential Six Nations Grand Slam in Murrayfield and after the mother of all successes over England, Welsh rugby has been hit by the dad of every local quarrel.

The proposed and gigantically dubious merger of the Ospreys and Scarlets is on one moment, off the following.

On Tuesday morning the groups were combining and another area developing in north Wales. By Wednesday noon Ospreys and Scarlets both said the arrangement was off the table.

The Ospreys executive Mike James has surrendered in challenge, and guarantee and counter-claims have been owned in sternly-worded expressions.