La Magners League pourrait ouvrir ses portes à 2 franchises italiennes. La fédération celtique de rugby a donné son accord pour l'arrivée de deux équipes transalpines. Mais, il faudra que ses 2 équipes répondent à certains standards en terme d'infrastructures, finances et promotion (incluant les retransmissions).
Cela risque de prendre du temps et ne se ferra en tout cas pas avant 2010-2011. C'est une très bonne chose pour tous, mais la CRB (celtic rugby board), pourrait "forcer" les italiens à avoir une équipe sur Rome, sachant que pour l'instant les 2 meilleures équipes italiennes sont le Benetton de Trévise et le Cammi Calvisano (qui sont il faut le dire, 2 "petites villes" du nord de l'italie).
Affaire à suivre quand ça se concrétisera, mais c'est une bonne chose pour l'italie après leur intégration aux 5 nations et en Hcup
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/7965832.stm| Spoiler: |
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Two Italian teams to join Magners
The Celtic Rugby Board has agreed in principle to introduce two Italian teams into the Magners League.
The board has advised the Italian Rugby Federation that it is considering the move in time for the start of the 2010-11 season.
If that went ahead, it would see the Magners League increasing in size from 10 to 12 teams.
The board says it would be subject to certain conditions in terms of playing and facility standards.
"[The conditions] fall under main headings of playing and facility standards, finance and commercial including television. This will be a comprehensive process and will take some time," said a Celtic Rugby statement.
"The board therefore decided that participation could not commence before 2010-2011 season."
Welsh Rugby Union chief Roger Lewis welcomed the introduction of an Italy presence in the Magners.
"This is an exciting possibility for the Magners League and for Welsh rugby and for Welsh fans," said the WRU chief executive.
"But there are a number of hurdles that need to be jumped before [it happens].
"What they [the Italians] have to do is satisfy the criteria from the rugby perspective and put in teams that can add to the competition and certainly hold their own."
At the moment the main clubs in Italy are Calvisano and Treviso, who both competed in this year's Heineken Cup.
Those two teams play in a 10-club Italian League, but it could be that the Celtic League board look to have one of their two Magners teams based in Rome.
Rugby chiefs hope having two Italian teams in the Magners League would help to develop the national team, who were whitewashed in this season's Six Nations and who have struggled to compete on a consistent basis since entering the tournament in 2000. |
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“I like to think I play rugby as it should be played - there are no yellow or red cards in my collection - but I cannot say I'm an angel."Jonny Wilkinson
Lun 30 Mar 2009 - 18:36
