Italy boss Nick Mallett believes that Italian players must become involved in a higher level of competition © Getty Images

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Players/Officials Nick Mallett

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Italy boss Nick Mallett has called for an Italian side to be admitted to the Celtic League as he looks to cement a player base ahead of the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

Mallett's Azzurri slipped to three defeats during their autumn series, with Australia, Argentina and the Pacific Islands registering wins on Italian soil. With Italy's famous 37-17 win over Scotland at Murrayfield only two seasons old, it seems that their rapid rise has stalled just as they should be flourishing.

Having been drawn as the third seeds in a pool containing Australia and Ireland for the 2011 tournament, Mallett will not only need to improve his side's form but also hope that the strength-in-depth of Italian rugby increases should they wish to mount a serious challenge.

"The standard of club rugby is just not good enough and, unfortunately, Italy have got a system where they allow a lot of overseas players to play in Italy," Mallett told The Irish Independent. "There can be seven or eight overseas players on the field at one time and they are often in key positions.

"Treviso played against Leicester and lost by 60 points at home and only five of their players qualified for Italy.

"If you're going to lose by 60 points, you might as well be Italian and learn from the experience. Italian rugby should try to take a decision to compete in the Magners League or Heineken Cup with a side that is predominantly Italian."

In recent seasons Italy have struggled to fill key positions, notably struggling to replace Diego Dominguez at fly-half and Alessandro Troncon at scrum-half since their retirements, with only young Treviso No.10 Andrea Marcato making further progress over the autumn.

Italian clubs currently compete in the Super 10 competition, and the clubs will meet the Italian Rugby Federation (IRF) next Wednesday and on December 19 to mull over the possibility of an Italian side in the Celtic League.

IRF President Giancarlo Dondi told Gazzetta dello Sport , "To modify what we have at present, you need good sense. Everyone will have to give up something for the good of the group."

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