Sam Warburton has urged the Welsh Rugby Union to cut one of its four professional clubs for the greater good of the game in Wales. Welsh rugby is currently in limbo after the Ospreys and Scarlets both declined to follow Cardiff and the Dragons in signing the new Professional Rugby Agreement with the WRU. As a result the WRU have served a two-year notice to both the Ospreys and Scarlets on the old PRA, meaning there will be a tiered funding model next season. Going down to three professional clubs is a very real possibility and Warburton insists it needs to happen if Welsh rugby is to drag itself out of the abyss. "I've said they need to be cut, I don't want them to," Warburton told Mirror Sport . "I would love us to keep four teams and add a north Wales region and have players pouring out of that pathway but that's not happening and it's not happening down south either. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. "All the reviews that have come about have all concluded for the last 10 years that you need to go down to three. "We've fought to keep four from a good place to keep them alive, but the reality is we just can't and we have to drop to three. "I don't want it, but if we're looking at it subjectively it has to happen. "My preference would be a merger, but if no one is willing to merge then unfortunately there has to be a cut throat decision. "Is it perfect? No. "Whether it is right or wrong, nobody has the right answer. Join WalesOnline Rugby's WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free "But one answer we do know is we've had four teams for 20 years and it's bought no success. "The daft thing is to keep doing the same thing and expecting a different result. "I fully support going down to three, from a player quality perspective, we can't support four teams nor do we have the funding." Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here. Reducing to three professional clubs would concentrate both money and playing talent, which in theory should drive up standards on the field.