Caught between a rock and a hard place

In the ever-changing world of professional rugby, very little can be taken for granted. With just four months left in the European club season, no side can say with any degree of certainty who and in what tournament they will be playing in next season.

Even the composition of the RaboDirect Pro12 — heaven knows what that tournament will be called given that no sponsor has yet stepped forward to take over from the Dutch multinational bank — is up in the air, with the turmoil in Wales between their regions and the WRU.

The latest shock comes from the Italian federation which is now expressing dissatisfaction with the Pro12, claiming it is costing their representative sides, Zebre and Treviso too much to partake in the competition. Quite where they would go as an alternative for regular game time is anyone’s guess.