NARBERTH Rugby Club launched an urgent investigation last week after its name appeared on a Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) name and shame list, writes Emma Jones.

The list, which also included Loughor, Pontllanfraith and Abercrave RFCs, is part of the WRU's crackdown on the sale of international match tickets on e-bay.

The Pembrokeshire club has insisted that it was not responsible for putting the tickets, for the Welsh internationals against New Zealand and South Africa, on the website.

Its management committee met on Monday to review the facts of the case after recovering the unsold pair of tickets of a debenture holder.

In a statement, Narberth RFC said: "As a club, we are very disappointed that the rules have been flouted as when tickets were issued, each member who received a SANZAR ticket was reminded that 'tickets must not be sold on to other people, as the WRU are closely scrutinising the tickets allocated to clubs and sanctions may be imposed on a club, if members are caught selling on to others."

The WRU said it was delighted by the supportive response from some of the clubs named as e-bay offenders last week.

But that was not a sentiment shared by the club.

Narberth's spokesman said: "We are also disappointed that the WRU has not contacted us in this matter as we have had to work on third party information to establish the facts."

The WRU has insisted that it will continue to crackdown on e-bay ticket sales and warned people who were thinking of buying them on the website or from a tout, not to, as they ran the risk of being ripped off.

Narberth RFC is not the only club to appear on the list.

The New Zealand Rugby Union and Australian Rugby Union were also named.

The WRU is working with both unions to track the offenders.

At the time of going to press Narberth RFC released an official statement: "We have decided to revoke the member's privilege to apply for international tickets for a 12 month period in accordance with the club's ticket allocation policy.

"The tickets for every Wales home international match taking place until November 1st, 2006 will come back to the club for re-allocation to other members. "The member will have the right to make formal representations to the management committee on this decision."