'The articles of the Union still subscribe to the amateur principle. We are at the moment seeking legal advice on this and until the picture becomes clearer, people will have to be a bit more circumspect on what they do,' said Else.

The International Rugby Board (IRB) recently decreed the move towards professionalism. This, however, will have to be ratified at this month's IRB meeting in Tokyo. Until then most Unions, including Hong Kong, are in the dark as to how to tackle the new 'open' era.

'Until we know what exactly are the IRB's new regulations, it is hard to say what move we will take,' said Else.

In England, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) has declared a 12-month moratorium on paying players at other levels apart from international level.

Hong Kong have set up a committee to look into all aspects of professionalism. Valley's moves, however, can supersede this committee's decisions.

A senior HKRFU official said that things 'were getting out of hand' with Valley's push towards 'professionalism' and the expected demise of Kowloon from First Division rugby.

'The Union should have seen this coming a long time ago. What we must do now is to start contracting players to play for individual clubs,' said the official.

Else, meanwhile, raised the question as to whether a member club of the Union could pay their players without the Union sanctioning it.

'I don't believe that we will remain strictly amateur. But at the same time it won't be open house. There has to be some sort of regulation,' said Else.

His views raise the interesting problem of whether Valley can go ahead with their plans to pay players if the Union says they cannot.

Valley, one of the most successful rugby clubs in recent times, are on the verge of forming a limited liability company which will pave the way for match fees being given to their players.

It is rumoured that match fees could be anything between $100 and $700.

Pieter Schats, a leading member of Valley and the HKRFU's new executive director, said that at the moment, no Valley players were being paid to play.

The former Hong Kong rugby captain, however, did not deny the fact that Valley would soon become a limited liability company.

While Valley go from strength to strength, Kowloon, lacking in manpower, are considering pulling their two teams out of the league tournament which starts next month.

Kowloon, one of the oldest clubs in the territory, are apparently disillusioned with the struggle to find new players - most of whom are attracted by Valley and Hong Kong Football Club.

This has resulted in a growing resentment among Kowloon players, who want to drop out of the First Division and play in the Second Division.