HEREFORD'S world indoor champion Robert Weale is one of seven top bowlers who must decide whether to oppose their leader, twice world title-holder John Price, and play in a rebel televised tournament.

Weale, who stormed to the world title at Hopton, on the Norfolk coast, in January, and world pairs champions David Gourlay and Alex Marshall, of Scotland, are em-broiled in the controversy.

The seven, who also include new English champion Greg Moon, from Banbury, have been invited to compete in the inaugural British Isles invitational at the Castlemilk Stadium, Glasgow, from December 5-8.

However, world number two John Price, chairman of the Professional Bowls Association, the player's organisation, has called upon the seven, all PSA Members, "to think very carefully" about whether they should take part in the event.

Price, 40, from Port Talbot, South Wales, says that the organisers of the new tournament, the British Isles Indoor Bowls Council, are breaking an agreement, signed in 1997, which handed over control of the televised events to the World Bowls Tour, of which he is a director.

"I would not personally play in this event. If a had been invited, I would have declined. Only the WBT should be running such tournaments," said Price.

"If people start paddling their canoes off in different directions, it will be disastrous for the game."