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History
The first documented rugby union match played in Italy was a demonstration
game played in 1910 in Turin between Racing Club Paris and Servette
of Geneva. The first match played by an Italian team was a year later
US Milanese against Voiron of France.
On July 25 of the same year the "Propaganda Committee" was
formed which in 1928 became the Federazione Italiana Rugby (FIR).
The first Italian championship, won by Ambrosiana Milano, took place
in 1929, with 6 of the 16 teams that existed in Italy.
In May of the same year Italy played their first international losing |
9-0 against Spain (represented by Catalonia) in Barcelona.
The formation of FIRA in 1933 brought together the national teams
of Italy, France, Spain, Czechoslovakia, Romania and Germany.
After World War Two the Italian rugby union entered a new dimension
thanks to the help of Allied troops in Italy. But Italy followed
the French model until the 70s. In the 70s rugby union made enormous
progress thanks to great foreign players (John Kirwan, Botha, Campese,
Lynagh) and coaches (Saby, Bish, Greenwood, Nelie Smith) in the
Italian championship. Even foreign coaches were chosen for the national
team, like Bertrande Fourcade and Georges Coste. The
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Azzurri took part in the first ever Rugby World Cup match against
New Zealand on 22 May 1987. The Italians then built a very formidable
side in the 1990s and recorded a lot of victories over Five nations
opposition, including consecutive victories over Ireland. They beat
Ireland twice in 1997 on January 4 37-29 at Lansdowne Road and on
December 20 37-22 in Bologna. On March 22, 1997 they recorded their
first and so far only win over France 40-32. In January 1998 Scotland
were the victims with Italy winning 25 - 21. |
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| Federazione
Italiana Rugby |
Year of foundation: 1928
C lubs: 591
Players: 47.000
Stadium: Flaminio, Roma
Colors: Azzurra
Anthem: “Fratelli d'Italia”
World Ranking: 9°
World Cup: 1987, 1991, 1995, 1999 e 2003
Site: www.federugby.it |
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