Exiles are eager for a place in the Pro12

LONDON SCOTTISH and London Welsh have held ‘informal’ talks with Pro12 chiefs over the possibility of joining the league — but there are hurdles in their way. Both clubs are members of the Scottish Rugby Union and the Welsh Rugby Union respectively — as well as the England Rugby Football Union — and any move would need the agreement of all three governing bodies. Although joining next year looks too soon, there continue to be doubts over the long-term future of cash-strapped Italian sides Zebre and Treviso, with both exile clubs potentially taking their place in the 12-team league. Having London Scottish in the same league as Edinburgh and Glasgow would be welcomed by the SRU, as strong links remain between the governing body and the Richmondbased club who play in the English Championship. London Scottish have a proud history of providing more players for the Scotland national team in the amateur era than any other club side, with Gavin Hastings, Paul Burnell, Damien Cronin and Derek White all starting for the side who beat England to win the 1990 Grand Slam. They are currently barred from gaining promotion to the Aviva Premiership — where London Welsh play — as their ground does not meet the criteria required. A London Scottish spokesman said they did not want to comment on any possible move to the Pro12. But chairman Sir David Reid said: ‘London Scottish have made astonishing progress yearon-year since 1999 but there is still work to be done before we can achieve our ultimate goal of returning to tier-one rugby. Rest assured, we remain hugely ambitious and continue to work tirelessly to make London Scottish even stronger.’