At present a detailed fixture list is being prepared which will follow the following principles:- Competition will commence and complete on the same dates for all teams. Irish and Scottish teams will not be playing on international weekends. Welsh teams will be required to play some mid-week matches to accommodate the Anglo-Welsh Cup. The extent to which they do so will be determined by the progress Welsh teams make to the knockout stages of the Anglo-Welsh Cup and the Heineken Cup. An offer from the W.R.U. to make a significant additional financial contribution has been accepted. The potential future inclusion of the Italian teams is provided for in the four year agreement. A further announcement will be made when the 2005/06-fixture list is finalised.