The Welsh Rugby Union has claimed that George North's region Scarlets began talks over selling their star winger before informing the player.

North's contract with the Scarlets expires at the end of the 2013-14 season, but Northampton Saints have tabled an offer to sign the Kings Lynn-born player at the end of the current campaign.

"Scarlets opened discussions to transfer the player with clubs outside the UK in 2012," said a WRU statement.

"George refused to consider France but reluctantly conceded he would be prepared to move if Scarlets wished."

The governing body also highlighted that it had offered the chance to discuss centrally contracting players such as 20-year-old North.

This is the latest controversial incident in a sequence of recent rows between the WRU and the nation's four professional regions, and comes in the wake of Regional Rugby Wales chairman Stuart Gallacher revealing the regions have held exploratory talks aimed at forming a fresh Anglo-Welsh competition.