Former Wales wing Adrian Hadley has claimed that Wales's rugby regions are not strong enough to succeed in the Heineken Cup.
Ospreys, Scarlets and the Cardiff Blues are the three Welsh outfits competing in the 2012-13 rounds, but the former is the only team to pick up a victory in the competition.
Scarlets and the Blues are on the verge of elimination in the early stages, with Hadley telling the BBC that "our regions just aren't good enough".
Hadley added: "You've got to look at the expectations and the money that the French clubs are paying and the strength of some of the English sides.
"So it's very, very difficult and obviously if you don't qualify then your seeding points go down so you won't get seeded in the following year in the Heineken Cup."
Hadley made 27 international appearances for his country.