Italian federation steps in to save its clubs from Pro12 expulsion

Italy's place in next season's Pro12 could be secured after the Italian Rugby Federation stepped in with new proposals

Treviso and Zebre were reportedly in danger of losing their berths in the league due to around €1.5million owed to the other member clubs from Ireland, Wales and Scotland, with London Welsh and London Scottish rumoured to be in the frame as replacements. But Italian Rugby Federation president Alfredo Gavazzi has claimed there will be no change to the current line-up after proposing a plan to deal with the debt. "I 100 oer cent exclude any kind of expulsion as we're equal partners and there are contracts in place," Gavazzi told an Italian newspaper. "I met the other unions' CEOs on 28 April, and I presented them my mediation proposal. I think it's a good one. We will have an answer over the next few days." [h/t BBC]