Will the Italians cope in the ML?
Wed, 28 Jul 2010 13:28
The Magners League will be expanded to twelve teams to accommodate Benetton Treviso and Aironi this season, concerns have been rasied over the competitiveness of the Italian additions.
Welsh Rugby Union Chairman David Pickering admits that there are major worries about how the Italian sides will cope in the highly competitive Celtic League, but he has stressed that is up to them to prove they belong amongst the Welsh, Irish and Scottish regions.
"There are concerns. Are Italy significantly well placed to take this opportunity?" Pickering told the Western Mail, "That is the major worry I hear from our regions in Wales and that is the challenge facing Italian rugby.
"The rest of the Celtic countries have reached out with an olive branch and it’s now up to Italy to make the most of what has happened."
The greatest challenge facing the two sides may be recruitment of players good enough to compete in the
Magners League, and with many Italian stars plying their trade outside of their nation's borders, Pickering said they have a responsibility to lure them home.
"They have to grow and develop their rugby and bring their players back home to play," said Pickering.
"There are fantastic advantages to the Italian national side by having their players in Italy.
"Will this model help their rugby improve? We certainly hope so, and we have given them the support and opportunity they deserve.
"Now they have to take advantage of that."
Despite his concerns, Pickering admits that the introduction of Italy into the Six Nations has been an overwhelming success and he hopes that in a few years time the introduction of the Italian sides into the Magners League will have a similar effect.
"Italy coming into the Six Nations has been an outstandingly successful move for us all.
"It's produced fantastic returns for us all, not
just in monetary terms, but in terms of growth and development of the game in Italy and in Europe
"I hope we can replicate that success in the Magners.
"If we can, it will bring a potential audience of 60 million to watch the game and give Italy the chance to have their players based at home, playing for Italian sides in a professional league
"That is a big challenge for them and they know that, but they were so keen to get into the Magners League. The door is now open for them to make the best out of it.
"But we are pretty sure we have done the right thing for the Magners League and for Italian rugby. You improve by bringing people into the fold, not by keeping people out."
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