SPORTITALIA NEW OFFICIAL BROADCASTER FOR ITALY

The Milan-based television company, which has in the past broadcast both the French Top14 and the Six Nations U20 Italian matches, will add to its portfolio of top rugby events with their appointment as Host Broadcaster of the competition where Benetton Treviso and newly-founded Parma-based Zebre will face the best teams from Scotland, Wales and Ireland.

Sportitalia will produce and broadcast live on free-to-air TV the twenty two RaboDirect PRO12 matches that will be played on Italian soil. They will also receive from the other official broadcasters the feed for matches played overseas by the two Italian teams. The RaboDirect PRO12 Play-Offs and Final will also be broadcast.

John Feehan, Chief Executive of RaboDirect PRO12 said: " We are delighted to add Sportitalia to our family of Broadcast Partners and I am confident that their extensive match coverage will help increase the profile of the RaboDirect PRO12 in Italy.

"RaboDirect PRO12, like the RBS 6 Nations and Heineken Cup, is a showcase event for Italian rugby - FIR President Giancarlo Dondi said - and for this reason it is extremely important for us to rely on a tv partner who will guarantee a full, free-to-air coverage, allowing fans from all-over Italy to enjoy Benetton Treviso's and Zebre's matches in such a high level competition.

We're confident Sportitalia will give a great contribution to RaboDirect PRO12 development in our country and I hope this will bring new opportunities to spread awareness around RaboDirect PRO12 in Italy".

"We are delighted that Sportitalia's multisport package will be further expanded and that - with RaboDirect PRO12 - we will also be contributing towards the support of Italian Teams involved in major international competitions", SportItalia's CEO Bruno Bogarelli said. "I would like to thank President Dondi and RaboDirect PRO12 representatives for the trust they have placed in us and I'm sure cooperation between all parties involved will be beneficial for all of us."