RUGBY NEWS ROUND-UP:ANOTHER PRODUCTIVE meeting between the Magners League chairman John Hussey and the Italian federation president, Giancarlo Dondi, in Rome on Saturday, has brought the prospect of two regional Italian sides entering the league much closer to fruition.

Hussey returned with the Irish team to Dublin yesterday “reasonably confident” the Magners League board will ratify the inclusion of two Italian sides in time for the 2010-11 season between now and the end of March.

Exploratory talks have been ongoing about some form of Italian involvement in the league for a couple of years and although the formula for making this come to pass has not been finalised, the proposal has gathered momentum lately because Nick Mallett and Dondi believe it is imperative for the future health of Italian rugby.

The Italians would like to have four teams entering the competition but as that would mean eight extra rounds of matches it is not feasible. But they are prepared to compromise, with two largely indigenous Italian regions being based in Treviso and Rome.

Accommodating two Italians sides would be problematic given it would require finding four extra weekends and Hussey admits the board would have to be “creative” in finding them, perhaps during the Six Nations. It helps though that the EDF Cup is in its last year.

Meanwhile, Mallett has received the dreaded “vote of confidence” from Dondi in the wake of Sunday’s defeat to Ireland at the Stadio Flaminio. The South African has attracted a barrage of flak in the last two weeks, beginning with his experiment of playing flanker Mauro Bergamasco at scrumhalf against England at Twickenham on the opening weekend of the tournament that imploded disastrously.

The Italian media was quick to point out the error of Mallett’s ways and were again unconvinced with Italy’s performance against Ireland in Rome. Picking up on the displeasure of the home supporters at the Stadio Flaminio, Dondi was asked whether Italian rugby was heading in the right direction. “I am saddened to have heard the booing. But that only came after the last two tries.”

Another more pointed inquiry suggested Italy have regressed this season under Mallett. Dondi argued: “It is difficult to think that our team has become worse with respect to 2008. My belief is that the other teams have improved and they have absorbed the new rules better. Mallett does his job and he has no fault.”