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Treviso will pull out of the RaboDirect Pro12 at the end of the season if ordered by the Italian Rugby Federation as a peace deal to save the Heineken Cup looks set to be struck.

Confusion reigned as initial reports claiming Italy’s leading franchise, who finished above the Dragons and Blues in last season’s table, would definitely withdraw when the contract which brought them in runs out at the end of the campaign.

But a statement released by Treviso confirmed it would go along with whatever decision its union takes.

It’s believed the Italian Federation favours Treviso and its other representative in the Pro12, Zebre, who are 11th in the table, joining an eight-strong Italian League top-flight for next season.

The Italians had been charged a whopping £2.5m a year by Celtic Rugby, organisers of the Pro12, for its teams to take part in the Rabo.

That means each of the four Welsh regions could expect a reduction in funding of £250,000 a year from the competition.

It costs the Blues, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets about £60,000 each in air fares for their two trips a season to Italy for league fixtures.

Wales regions might consider organising a cup competition in place of those fixtures, which would fill the gaps in it with potentially lucrative derbies.

The Pro12 is expected to revert to a Celtic League of 10 teams if the Italian Federation carry out its long-standing threat to withdraw Treviso and Zebre from it at the end of this campaign.

Meanwhile, union’s world governors are confident a peace deal to save the Heineken Cup will be agreed with another meeting due to take place in Paris on Wednesday.

International Rugby Board officials are privately predicting England’s top clubs will agree to return to the fold and ditch plans for Wales’ regions to join an extended Anglo-Welsh competition.

A reliable and highly-placed source revealed: “It might take some more time before an agreement is in place but we are extremely confident of a successful resolution to the talks.”

And he confirmed many of the proposals put forward by the English and French, including a 20-team tournament, had been agreed.

That means only seven RaboDirect Pro12 teams, the top finisher from each of its four countries – Wales, Ireland, Italy and Scotland – and the three other highest finishers would qualify for next season’s competition.

If it was based on the current table, leaders Munster, fourth-placed Ospreys, fifth-placed Glasgow and ninth-placed Treviso would be assured of spots based on the new qualification criteria.

The three meritocracy places would go to second-placed Leinster, third-placed Ulster and the sixth-placed Scarlets.

Teams who fail to qualify would be in what likely new organisers, the Six Nations Committee, hope would be a stronger second-tier European tournament.

If the plan wins approval, it should mean a frantic and exciting end to the Pro12 season as Wales regions battle for places in the northern hemisphere club showpiece.

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