Rugby Roma Olimpic

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Rugby Roma Olimpic
Full name	S.S.D. Rugby Roma Olimpic a r.l.
Founded	1930
Union	Federazione Italiana Rugby
Location	Rome, Italy
Ground(s)	Stadio "Tre Fontane" di Roma
President	Paolo Abbondanza
Coach	Michel Ringeval
League	Serie A
Team colours
Official website
www.rugbyroma.com/

Rugby Roma Olimpic is an Italian Rugby team from the city of Rome that currently plays in Serie A, the second tier of Italian Rugby.

[edit] History

The team was founded in October 1930, from the ashes of A.S.Roma Rugby (1929) and Lazio Rugby (1928), clubs associated with the football clubs of the Italian capital, when, after two seasons bankruptcy, under the management of the soccer clubs the decision was taken to form a separate organisation devoted to Rugby. The colours adopted were those of the San Isidro Athletic Club: black and white.

The new team were soon successful, winning the championship in the 1934-35 season and again in 1936-37, before financial difficulties restricted ambitions during the war years.

A resurgent post war team were champions again in 1948 and 1949, before further lean years throughout the fifties and sixties, during which the team were relegated.

The subsequent years saw the arrival of an English coach during the 70's and qualification for the play-offs in 1985, before further difficulties resulted in another relegation.

The next boom period led to All-black imports, victory in the Italian cup in 1998 and a fifth championship in 2000 before yet another financial crisis resulted in relegation once more.

After narrowly missing out in successive years, the club started the 2007-2008 season with high hopes of a return to the top tier of Italian Rugby.

[edit] See also

• Rugby union in Italy