Italian rugby franchise Benetton Treviso are set to pull out of the RaboDirect Pro12 league at the end of this season, citing “ the absence of certainty about the future forms of organisation, participation and regulations” of the competition.

A statement on the club’s website said the club were also willing “to consider, and possibly participate in” a proposed new competition to be set up by the Italian Rugby Federation, believed to be an eight-team Italian league.

Treviso joined the three Celtic League countries in 2009, with their participation agreement finishing at the end of this season.

The Pro12 will lose sponsors RaboDirect at the end of this season, while Sky Sports will join as chief broadcasters of the competition.