Italy Celtic League hopes suffer setback

Talks to bring two Italian teams into the Celtic League next season broke down the League´s financial demands.

Talks to bring two Italian teams into the Celtic League 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 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.''