Italian clubs to join Celtic League
Mallet hails Italian inclusion
Also In The News
|
By Sam Ross. |  |
Saturday, 20, Mar 2010 10:06
By Chris Cousens.
Italian rugby's head coach Nick Mallet has described the news that two Italian clubs will join the Celtic League from next season as "the most positive thing that can ever happen for Italian rugby".
The move, aimed at continuing the development of the game in Italy and making the Azzurri more competitive in the Six Nations, was revealed to the media at the Millennium Stadium before Italy's game against Wales at the weekend.
It will be the first time a club from outside Wales, Scotland and Ireland will take part in the competition. There are no plans to rename the league.
Speaking after Italy's 33-10 defeat to Wales, Mallet said: "The big disadvantage for an Italian rugby player is to go from Italian club rugby to this level of performance. The players who missed tackles today [Saturday] were players who play in the Italian league and they don't have the opportunity to prepare for this type of game.
"The guys who missed tackles today, they won't make those same mistakes if they have to play against the Ospreys or Leinster or Munster on a weekly basis. And they'll lose by 50 points at first, then they'll lose by 30 points, then 20 points then maybe they won't lose at all.
"Imagine if Italy had 35 or 40 young players playing in the Celtic League, it will make a massive difference in their ability to step up to international rugby."