 The Magners League currently has 10 teams from Wales, Ireland and Scotland
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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.
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606: DEBATE
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"The board therefore decided that participation could not commence before 2010-2011 season."
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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