• Details on name and home ground yet to be decided • WRU wants to introduce new side in north Wales

Ospreys and Scarlets, two of Wales’ most successful sides since regional rugby’s inception in 2003, are poised to merge as part of a radical overhaul of its professional game. They could come together as soon as the start of next season if plans are given the go-ahead at Tuesday’s Professional Rugby Board meeting.

Talks regarding Project Reset have been held between the Welsh Rugby Union and its four professional sides – the other two being the Cardiff Blues and the Dragons. Staff at Scarlets, who are based in Llanelli, and Ospreys, based in Swansea, were informed of the potential merger. Details on the name of the team, where it would play and who would coach the regional side have yet to be finalised.

Under the proposal Wales would still have the four professional teams because the WRU wants to introduce a side in north Wales.

A large number of the Wales national side, who face Scotland on Saturday, represent Ospreys or Scarlets. Last week several leading players, including the Wales captain, Alun Wyn Jones, met Martyn Phillips, the WRU’s chief executive, to discuss the changes.

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Phillips has previously stated “difficult decisions” will have to be made to ensure long-term success for the game’s future in Wales, with the governing body discussing a new salary banding system and a regional funding model. On Sunday the chairman of the WRU-owned Dragons, David Buttress, said: “Changes need to be made and we need to be bold in those changes.”

Speaking last week, Wales assistant coach Rob Howley said: “It’s uncertain times, which is disappointing. There is a lot of frustration, not only for the best players in Wales, but for their mates in the regions. There is an uncertainty about Project Reset, and they would like to know where they are going to be playing next year or in two years’ time.”