Celtic blow for Italian clubs
Thu, 28 Jan 2010 23:04
Talks to bring two Italian teams into the Magners League, to join their Celtic rivals next season, broke down on Thursday over the League's financial demands, the Italian Rugby Federation (FIR) claimed in a statement.
Italy had hoped to have sides in the Irish, Scottish and Welsh competition to help boost the strength of a national side that is seeking to be more competitive in the Six Nations.
The FIR had chosen Aironi, an amalgamation of northern teams based in Viadana, and a franchise run by champions Treviso to represent it in the competition next season.
The League had said the two teams' entry was conditional on a series of conditions regarding issues such as TV rights and the quality of the stadiums.
"What I am most upset about is that these requests only emerged in the final phase of the negotiations," FIR President Giancarlo Dondi said.
"If we had been made aware of the Celtic [Magners] League Board's economic demands beforehand, we would have avoided a long, laborious process.
"This decision must in no way hold back the development of our country's rugby movement. If the board does not have a rethink, we will meet our set goals with great seriousness and perseverance anyway."
AFP
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