Italy national rugby league team

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Italy
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s) The Azzuri
Association Federazione Italiana Rugby League
Region Europe
Head coach Italy Carlo Napolitano
Captain Italy Marco Ferrazzano
Home stadium Stadio Plebiscito
RLIF ranking 18th
National Uniform
First international
Australia Australia 37 - 15 Italy Italy
(Rome, Italy; 1960)
Biggest win
Canada Canada 6 - 66 Italy Italy
(Keighley, England; 15 November 2000)
Biggest defeat
Scotland Scotland 104 - 0 Italy Italy
(Stadio Plebiscito, Padova; 17 October 2009)

The Italy national rugby league team represent Italy in international rugby league tournaments. The team dates back from the 1950s after the formation of a domestic competition in the country, and in the 1960s they played Australia, the France and a number of English teams.

The team have never competed in a World Cup, although did attempt to in 2000. Though they did compete in the Emerging Nations Tournament in 2000 and have since then contested the Ionio Cup against Greece in 2003 and 2004. In 2008 they will play Germany and the Czech Republic in the European Shield.

Currently the team are ranked 18th in the world, behind Japan but ahead of Germany. In Europe they are ranked 13th, behind Malta. English - Italian Carlo Napolitano coaches the team, and Marco Ferrazzano as captain of the side.

Contents

[edit] History

In 1950, an Italian team from Turin tours the North of England. Italy later runs a domestic competition. In 1960, Italy played Australia in two international matches, but the game began to disappear in the country over the course of the next decade.

On April 15 1951 played in Cahors (France), the first official meeting of the Italian National Team lost 29-17 against the French National team, although the Azzurri closed the first half of the match still leading 10-7. Sixteen official matches were played against English teams in the season 1952-53, as well as the triangular between the national teams of Italy, France (Perpignan) and England. In 1953, he joined 13 other te In the 1970s however the game, and thus the team, disappeared. In the mid 1990s the team were revived and have been playing in international competitions since.

In 1958, within Treviso under the incorporation of Notary Dr. Luigi Di Francia, he formed the Italian Federation of Amateur Rugby 13 (FIAR 13). Immediately after the Italian federation, was recognized by the Rugby Football League and enforce international credibility. With this recognition and economic aid from across the Channel, the sport of rugby league was massively popular in Italy. The FIAR had 13 for propaganda purposes and the development of rugby at 13 in Italy relations with foreign federations and the International Board. Immediately after the Italian federation, was recognized by the Rugby Football League and purchase international credibility. With this recognition and economic aid from across the Channel, the sport of rugby league was largely popular in Italy. In the first year of operation, FIAR were 24 clubs or campanies and subsidiaries of 620 athletes. In 1960 champion Italy is the team of Goren of Padua.

In the late '60s, the threats made by the Italian Rugby Federation, were successful, in fact, after threats, acts of disqualification of rugby players to rugby league (or game of 13), which alternated between a rugby league and rugby union, political pressure and other propaganda. Therefore, the movement of the FIAR lost energy and thanks to "aid" of the FIR ceased to exist. In 1995, however, thanks to the will and passion of two Italian-Australians, Dominic Pezzano and John Benigni, who reconciled their passions, namely that of rugby league and being Italian, and together they led a team of Italian players in Australia to contest the international tournament COCA COLA Rugby League World Sevens. After that event, the Italia Rugby League began competing in various international tournaments, such as the Nine's in Fiji, the Mediterranean Cup in 1999, the Emerging Nations World Cup tournament in 2000 in England and others. In 2002, the Italian National Rugby League back to playing in Italy with a triangular international between the Scotland's national team and Russia. The first meeting of the Italian players, they lost with the selection of Kazan, but in the final game against the fierce Scots tie 16 to 16. In 2003 he renewed his meeting with the Scots, in 2004 the Italian selection played against the team of Paris Chatillon fields at the Mira Rugby. In 2006, then the Italian national team play 3 matches, 2 against the national team from South Africa and one against the selection of amateur players in the United Kingdom, BARLA [1].

In the late 2000s, an Italy side again began participating in international competition, amid a wave of European nations taking up the sport within the decade. Italy won the RLEF European Shield in 2008 and 2009, and as such were drafted into the 2009 European Cup following Russia's withdrawal from the tournament. In 2009, Italy will be fielding two separate teams, one based in Europe, playing in the European Cup, and one based in Australia, playing in the Aus-Med Shield.[2][3]

The Federazione of Italia Rugby League was officialy moved to the "official observer" status by the Rugby League European Federation from an unranked position on the 15th April, 2008 [4].

[edit] 2009 Internationals

On Sunday 8th November, the year ended for the Italia National Rugby League team with the Rugby League European Cup Relegation Match between them and Serbia at The Old Parish in Maesteg (Wales), apart of the RLEF European Cup Final day matches. Italia won the match 42-14 with 2 hat-tricks coming from Italia's five-eighth Benjamin Falcone and their second-rower Dean Vicelich (MOTM), with Raymond Nasso scoring the final try. [5][6]

[edit] Competitions

Italy or Italy A has participated in:

[edit] Results

The first ever international rugby league match for Italy was against France in 1951 and a tour by the Australia in 1960, until Rugby League disappeared in the country. The mid 1990's from a group of Australian Italians signaled the re-emergence of Italian Rugby League with predominately Australian and English Italians used for international matches, until 2006 with the FIRL being founded in Italy. This signaled the start of a new era for Italian Rugby League with international friendlies, the Rugby League European Shield and Rugby League European Cup being participated in by the Italia Azzurri.

Date Result Venue City Crowd Competition Match
8 November Italy def. Serbia 42-14 The Old Parish Maesteg, Wales ??? Rugby League European Cup 2009)
24 October Lebanon def. Italy 86-0 International Olympic Stadium Tripoli ??? Rugby League European Cup 2009)
17 October Scotland def. Italy 104-0 Stadio Plebiscito Padova ??? Rugby League European Cup 2009)
17 October Greece A def. Italy A 34-10 Marconi Stadium Sydney ??? Aus-Med Shield Final 2009)
10 October Italy A def. Malta A 34-10 Marconi Stadium Sydney ??? Aus-Med Shield 2009)
18 July Italy def. Germany 42-30 Stadio Plebiscito Padova ??? European Shield 2009)
11 July Italy def. Czech Republic 38-8 Stadio Plebiscito Padova ??? European Shield 2009)
6 June Morocco def. Italy 32-10 ??? ??? ??? ??? 2009)
12 July Italy def. Czech Republic 38-18 Stadio Plebiscito Padova ??? European Shield 2008)
13 June Italy def. Germany 58-26 Stadio Plebiscito Padova ??? European Shield 2008)
12 June BARLA def. Italy 64-0 Stadio Plebiscito Padova ??? Simone Franchini Nines 2008)
13 June South Africa def. Italy 60-20 Monselice ??? Simone Franchini Nines 2006)
12 June South Africa def. Italy 76-6 Monselice ??? Simone Franchini Nines 2006)
9 June BARLA "B" def. Italy 38-18 Monselice ??? Simone Franchini Nines 2006)
4 February Italy A def. USA 38-6 Marconi Stadium Sydney 2,000 Columbus Cup 2006)
2 October Italy def. Greece 58-14 Marconi Stadium Sydney ??? Ionio Cup 2004)
2 October Italy def. Greece 26-24 Marconi Stadium Sydney ??? Ionio Cup 2003)
11 July Scotland A def. Italy 30-10 ??? ??? ??? ??? 2003)
??? Tartarstan/Russia def. Italy 16-12 ??? ??? ??? ??? 2002)
20 November BARLA def. Italy 64-0 ??? ??? ??? 2000 Rugby League Emerging Nations Final 2000)
17 November Italy def. USA 40-16 ??? ??? ??? 2000 Rugby League Emerging Nations Tournament 2000)
15 November Italy def. Canada 66-6 ??? ??? ??? 2000 Rugby League Emerging Nations Tournament 2000)
11 November Lebanon def. Italy 36-16 ??? ??? ??? ??? 1999)
2 October Italy def. France 14-10 ??? ??? ??? ??? 1999)
??? Italy def. Morocco 34-0 ??? ??? ??? ??? 1999)
??? Australia def. Italy 67-22 ??? ??? ??? ??? 1960)
??? Australia def. Italy 37-15 ??? ??? ??? ??? 1960)
15 April France def. Italy 29-17 Cahors France ??? ??? 1951)

[edit] Overall Record

The overall record for the Italian Rugby League, including all national team, competitions, international friendlies, tours and Italy A matches (all affiliated matches).

Against Played Won Lost Drawn  % Won
Total 28 13 15 0 46%

[edit] Players

[edit] Most recent squad

Italian squad for the 2009 European Cup.[7]

[edit] Notable players with Italian backround

Notable players to have played for Italia, 'Italy A' or have Italian heritage [8]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Italia Rugby League History
  2. ^ "Aus-Med Shield Tournament". Australian Rugby League. http://australianrugbyleague.com.au/news/article.php?id=1343. Retrieved 2009-10-12. 
  3. ^ "Three More Nations Announce European Cup Squads". Rugby League Europe Federation. 2009-09-27. http://www.rlef.eu.com/news.php?id=1148. Retrieved 2009-10-12. 
  4. ^ RLEF - Italy Profile
  5. ^ European Cup Relegation Match Report - Italy - Serbia
  6. ^ Italy V Serbia Match Details
  7. ^ http://www.rugbyleague.com/rugby-league-news/no-nero-but-new-faces.html
  8. ^ http://www.angelfire.com/oz/greekrugbyleague/Greece_Vs_Italy_Results.html

[edit] External links

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