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Pro12 should ditch Italian sides, says pundit Jonathan Davies

Last updated on .From the section Welsh Rugbycomments110

Owen Watkin goes over for Ospreys against Treviso in the Pro12
Owen Watkin goes over for Ospreys against Treviso in the Pro12

Italian teams Treviso and Zebre should be dropped from Pro12, according to Wales legend and BBC dual-code pundit Jonathan Davies.

Ospreys beat Treviso 47-10 in the latest round of games while Ulster won 46-17 at Zebre.

Treviso are bottom of the table with Zebre one place higher, but guaranteed a European top-flight spot in 2016-17.

"I don't think at the moment that they offer anything to the Pro12," Davies told Scrum V.

"I don't think it's good for any of the sides in there and I don't think it's good for the Italian sides."

Treviso have won twice in the Pro12 this season with Zebre having four wins - the same number as third-from-bottom Welsh team Newport Gwent Dragons in the 12-team competition.

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Two Italian teams - Treviso and Aironi - joined the competition in 2010. Aironi were replaced by Zebre in 2012.

Davies added: "You imagine being a Zebre player or Treviso player and getting walloped every week. It doesn't do your confidence any good, your attitude, and I just feel that it's not right for anyone."

Ex-union and league star Davies says Italy's two professional teams would be better served playing in a French competition rather than facing Welsh, Irish and Scottish opponents.

"It's difficult for everyone else involved because of the Italians and I think they should look at somewhere where maybe they can develop the players and be competitive, and maybe that's in one of the French leagues."

Davies also believes the rules that allow the highest-placed Italian Pro12 team to enter the European Champions Cup should be revised.

He says both should play in the second-tier European Challenge Cup.

"They're not good enough - they should go straight into the Challenge Cup," said Davies.

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110 comments

  • Comment posted by smurfsdabomb, at 22:38 17 Apr 2016

    Presumably through the same logic we can also get rid of Dragons?

  • Comment posted by JMG, at 08:48 18 Apr 2016

    Zebre - won 4 lost 16: NG Dragons - won 4 lost 16, same standards apply then?

  • Comment posted by U15521909, at 08:56 18 Apr 2016

    If you take away the 2 games they played against each other 3 of the 4 wins are against Welsh opposition... or is that not relevant? JD is an idiot.

  • Comment posted by U14927389, at 08:10 18 Apr 2016

    As a Ponty fan? I couldn't care less. The whole competition is a hopelessly gerrymandered affair comprised of plastic entities and, in the case of the Welsh 'regions', four clubs with a ring-fenced place at the top table without any domestic competition in that regard. No promotion, no relegation. No reason for the 'PRO12' other than to provide a justification for who plays in which European cup.

  • Comment posted by manziman, at 22:28 17 Apr 2016

    Could not disagree more! Yes it is tough for the Italian sides but boy do they give their all! Look at Connacht for so long the whipping boys of the Irish provinces but have come on the last few seasons and well deserve their 2nd spot! Kenya have just won their 1st 7's tournament at 140th attempt! So I say to Treviso & Zebre keep trying!

  • Comment posted by U12661916, at 22:28 17 Apr 2016

    Completely agree with Tufty - teams improve vastly from facing the best.

    Hence why Romania & Georgia are so desperate to open up the 6 nations. Zebre and Treviso are relatively new and will improve - JD as ever talking nonsense; why the BBC can't take a leaf out of BTs book and get more pundits in who've played the game this century I don't know.

  • Comment posted by cr9587, at 08:24 18 Apr 2016

    No problem with one of the Italian sides not automatically qualifying for the Champions Cup if they don't finish in the top 7, but this should be the case for all. If no Welsh (or Sco or Ire) team finishes in the top 7, then no place for them either and into the Challenge Cup they all go. Qualification should be by merit only.

  • Comment posted by Mac2013, at 23:03 17 Apr 2016

    Great player, poor pundit..... not a clue about the modern game and it's expansion, let's look at the last few seasons results, essentially JD wants to get rid of a Welsh team as well based on that logic. Of course he will have been 'mis-quoted' to ensure he can still get a Six Nations job next year. BBC needs new fresh pundits.....

  • Comment posted by U14405835, at 09:28 18 Apr 2016

    Some people cant view things long term. It took France 43 years in 5 nations before they won a championship but eventually they became one of the best teams over the last 50 years in it...if we dont invest in teams from elsewhere we end up with the narrow parochial game we deserve. Reminds me of debate over letting Durham into county cricket - rubbish for years then won the thing multiple times!

  • Comment posted by U16518793, at 22:27 17 Apr 2016

    Well its clear where this view is coming from. Looking like only one welsh team is gonna be in the top tier of European competition so he sees that Italian team as taking up a welsh place. Bitter and sad.

  • Comment posted by col, at 10:02 18 Apr 2016

    Always thought JD was an arrogant biased moron and this goes to prove it. These teams are improving and they are improving the Italian national side as well. Does JD forget there have been times when welsh teams really struggled and no one told them to sling their hook. The game needs to grow not shrink. He's just afraid that the more teams play the less often wales will win.

  • Comment posted by ovalball, at 08:12 18 Apr 2016

    Jonathan Davis

    should be ashamed of himself

    what Italian rugby wants is encouragement and support

    the really don't need to be told how bad they are
    the have the table's of the league and 6 nations posted in their country as well

    I have been to Treviso and Rome for match's and they were fantastic events

    so let's do more encouragement and less moaning for the good of the game

  • Comment posted by northernpete, at 17:00 18 Apr 2016

    If the two Italian teams weren't propping up the Pro12 three Welsh teams would be, you going to suggest they should be dropped as well?. No? thought not Jonathan.

  • Comment posted by a_proud_devil, at 22:19 17 Apr 2016

    Arrogance.

  • Comment posted by Tim, at 10:34 18 Apr 2016

    3 Welsh teams in the bottom half of the table. 1 of those the same no of wins as Zebre.
    So the welsh are flying in the Pro 12 ?? No. So one Welsh man should learn to keep his his gob shut and be thankful they are there. Or others might be suggesting to have the Welsh teams thrown out. As they are not exactly bringing a lot to the league either.... What a tool....

  • Comment posted by Irishman in Wales, at 10:06 18 Apr 2016

    If it wasn't for the two Italian sides propping up the table, the bottom three sides would be Welsh regions. Just saying!!

  • Comment posted by DAVID McKAY, at 08:28 18 Apr 2016

    Perhaps JD would be better to complain about the poor performance of the Welsh teams in the Pro 12. It is not beyond the bounds of possibility that they will have no teams in the top 6 and so only one team Welsh team will be in the European Cup.

  • Comment posted by LothianSky, at 07:04 18 Apr 2016

    Desertrat: You are wrong. Italy now has more players than Scotland, the game is developing in the south and more people in Italy are aware of and watch the sport than ten years ago. I's not just Italian supporters that struggle with the rules; you only have to listen to a typical Twickenham crowd.

  • Comment posted by Scarlets am byth, at 22:57 17 Apr 2016

    Bit harsh if the Italian sides were taking out of the League. The Scottish sides have played badly over the years but playing good rugby and performing well in the league. Dragons and even the Blues have been poor over the years but are improving, especially the Blues at the moment. Treviso have have taken a lot of scalps at home, keep them in! Much rather a trip to Italy than eastern Europe!

  • Comment posted by smedia, at 11:26 18 Apr 2016

    JD shame on you. As an Exeter fan and still remembering the frustration of people like Davies keeping us down in the Championship to allow the old school to stay up. Chiefs have more than proved you can compete and well with the big boys in a short time. These Italian sides need support not someone telling they're rubbish. Come on Jonathan get you head out your A and think long term.

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