Finito for Aironi Rugby

Aironi are set to be jettisoned from next season's RaboDirect PRO12 and Heineken Cup due to ongoing financial struggles in Italian rugby, reports ESPN.

Following the withdrawal of their main sponsor, Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena, it has been increasingly difficult for club officials to maintain a footing among Europe's elite.

Aironi were introduced to the former Celtic league two seasons ago, along with Benetton Treviso, but on-field results have been disappointing in comparison with their Italian rivals.

The club currently sits bottom of the PRO12, eight points adrift of Edinburgh, and suffered an early exit from this season's Heineken Cup, where they were hammered 82-0 by Clermont Auvergne.

The Federazione Italiana Rugby (FIR) must now decide the best course of action in terms of replacing Aironi, with a deadline for submissions of interest set for April 25. Whether or not any interest can be raised remains to be seen, with Italy currently battling economic hardship due to the Eurozone crisis.

The RaboDirect PRO12 entry criteria will also pose problems to any prospective bidders, with Treviso understood to be the only club aside from Aironi currently able to fulfil the economic obligations.

Rumours suggest that the FIR could be pressed into forming a centralised, union-funded second region as a back-up plan, with the club tentatively named Azzurri and based in Parma or Calvisano.

ESPN

Madigan Makes it Leinster Win

Leinster extended their lead at the top at the top of the Pro12 table with victory over Aironi in Viadana.

Three Ian Madigan penalties helped Leinster lead 9-0 at half-time, but Naas Olivier and Luciano Orquera kicked penalties to reduce Aironi's deficit.

Madigan knocked over two further penalties before Noel Reid scored the only try of the game in the 75th minute, converted by Madigan.

Leinster are now 14 points ahead of Ospreys, who were beaten by Glasgow.

Victory saw Leinster equal Munster's tournament record of 14 games unbeaten, set last year, while Aironi remain rooted to the foot of the table with just three wins in 16 games.

Madigan, the 22-year-old, ended with 17 points, the last of which came when he converted Reid's interception try.

Aironi: G Toniolatti, R Pavan, R Quartaroli, G Pizarro, S Sinoti; N Olivier, T Tebaldi, J Sole, S Favaro, N Cattina, C Del Fava, G Biagi, L Romano, R Santamaria (cpt), M Aguero.

Replacements: F Ongaro for Santamaria (78), A De Marchi fro Aguero (50), S Perugini for Romano (50), L Redolfini, F Ferrarini for Del Fava (24), T Keats for Tebaldi (54), L Orquera for Olivier (54),G Pavan for Pizarro (69).

Leinster: L Fitzgerald, A Conway, E O'Malley, B Macken, F Carr, I Madigan, I Boss; H van der Merwe, R Strauss, N White, D Browne, D Toner, K McLaughlin, S Jennings (cpt), R Ruddock.

Replacements: A Dundon for Strauss (75), J McGrath for van der Merwe (72), J Hagan for White (63), L Auva'a for Ruddock 54), D Ryan for Jennings (60), J Cooney for Boss (76), N Reid for Macken (62), I Nacewa, D Hudson for Carr (74).