Italians Get Into Magners League

The Magners League is to be expanded from ten to 12 teams from the start of next season as two Italian clubs are set to join the Celtic competition.

The Celtic Rugby Board board have given Treviso and a renamed Viadana a four-year licence into the revamped League. The move is the biggest boost for Italian rugby since the national team’s entry into the Six Nations in 2000. The two Scottish, four Welsh and four Irish clubs have received financial guarantees from the Celtic board.

The current teams – including reigning champions Munster – feared they may lose out financially with the admission of the Italians. So after a year-long viability review, league chiefs reassured the current members about the financial and commercial conditions – after a due diligence process by the sports consultancy arm of Deloittes.

There were fears that Scottish teams Edinburgh and Glasgow’s participation in the Magners League was in jeopardy after a supposed disagreement with their Welsh and Irish counterparts over a proposal to include the Italian teams. But the three Celtic Unions unanimously agreed to the introduction of two new Italian super sides after further reassurances of the competitive strength of the two Italian sides and the standard of their facilities.

The Italians joining the Magners League, which has been in discussions for the best part of 18 months, is expected to be widely well-received in rugby as it should significantly improve Italian rugby standards. Benetton Treviso and the new Aironi rugby region – based at Viadana’s Stadio Luigi Zaffanella – which will involve various clubs from the Lombardia and Emilia-Romagna regions will enter the Magners League in its 10th season.

Celtic Rugby director David Jordan said: “This is another massive step forward for the Magners League and follows the decision to go to a top four play-off system to determine our champion team. “As well as providing more fixtures for the teams already involved, this will also bring both a major cash injection into the competition and greater exposure across Europe. “The implementation of the play-offs and the Magners League Grand Final this season has already seen a marked improvement in the competitiveness of the League and the arrival of two Italian teams will provide another boost to the competition.

Giancarlo Dondi, President of Federazione Italiana Rugby (FIR), said: “I am sure that the Magners League will bring benefits to all Italian rugby and will have a positive impact on the competitiveness of our national team.”

Daniel "Pitchside" Pitcher Twitter: @DanFM104Sport About: Dan "Pitchside" Pitcher provides insight and commentary as the chief soccer and rugby correspondent for Sportspeak.