Italian rugby bosses have rejected a bid by Viadana to replace Aironi in the RaboDirect PRO12 next season.
FIR set to launch their own franchise to replace Aironi
The Italian rugby union federation has rejected a bid by Viadana to become the country's second team in the RaboDirect PRO12 next season.
The FIR will instead launch its own franchise to replace Aironi, who have pulled out of next season's competition on financial grounds.
Aironi was formed from a merger of a number of historic Italian clubs including Viadana and Parma.
The Italian federation has rejected Viadana's candidacy on economic viability grounds and says a franchise completely under its own control would replace Aironi.
Treviso are the Italians' other representatives in the competition.
