Italy national rugby league team

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Italia
Nickname The Azzuri
Governing body Federazione Italiana Rugby League
Region Europe
Head coach Carlo Napolitano
Captain Anthony Minichiello
Most caps Adam Capovilla
Home stadium Stadio Plebiscito
RLIF ranking 13th
Colours
First international
 France 29–17 Italy 
(Cahors, France; 1951)
Biggest win
 Italy 92–6 Russia 
(Stadio Plebiscito, Padova; 15 October 2011)
Biggest defeat
 Scotland 104–0 Italy 
(Stadio Plebiscito, Padova; 17 October 2009)
World Cup
Appearances 1 (first time in 2013)
Best result Group stage, 2013

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

The game disappeared in Italy in the 1970s and no international matches were played. The team was revived in the mid-90s and Italy began competing in various international tournaments. The team qualified for the 2013 Rugby League World Cup, their first time to the tournament.

Currently the team are ranked 13th in the world, behind the United States. English – Italian Carlo Napolitano coaches the team, and Sydney Roosters full back Anthony Minichiello captains the side.

History

In 1950, a team from Turin tours the North of England. Italy later runs a domestic competition. A year later the first official match of the Italian national team took place in Cahors, France. Italy lost 29–17 although the Azzurri ended the first half leading 10–7.

Sixteen official matches were played against English teams in the season 1952–53, as well as a triangular tournament between Italy, France and England.

In 1958, in Treviso under the Italian Federation of Amateur Rugby 13 (FIAR 13) was formed and was recognised by the Rugby Football League. With this recognition and funding from England, the sport of rugby league became popular in Italy. In their first year, the FIAR had 24 clubs and 620 players.

In 1960, Italy played Australia in two international matches held in Italy, the results were 37–15 and 67–22 losses. In the late 1960s, threats made by the rugby union governing body Italian Rugby Federation to ban players who played rugby league from their sport had the effect of killing off the sport in Italy by the 1970s. As a consequence the Italian national team ceased to exist.

In the mid-1990s the team were revived by two Italian-Australians, Domenic Pezzano and John Benigni, known as 'The Italian Rugby League A XIII' (IRL A XIII) was formed in 1993. Pezzano coached Italy in the Coca Cola Rugby League World Sevens in Australia with the team being predominately players from Italy and one Italo-Australian player captained the team – Orazio D'arro in this tournament. The IRL recorded a win against Morocco and loses against South Africa.

After that event, the Italia Rugby League began competing in various international tournaments, such as the Super League rugby league nines tournament in Fiji, World Sevens, St.Marys Sevens, Wollogong Sevens and the Mediterranean Cup in 1999. They attempted to qualify for the 2000 Rugby League World Cup and ended up in the Rugby League Emerging Nations Tournament in which they were runners-up to British Amateur Rugby League Association.

In 2002, the Azzuri were back playing internationals in Italy with a triangular tournament featuring Scotland and Russia. Italy lost to Tartarstan of Russia but tied their second game with Scotland 16 all. In 2003 Italy played Scotland again and contested the Ionio Cup against Greece, which they won.

In 2006, Italy played three matches, two against South Africa and one against British Amateur Rugby League Association.[1] In 2006 the Federazione of Italia Rugby League (FIRL) were founded.

The Federazione of Italia Rugby League was officially moved to the "official observer" status by the Rugby League European Federation from an unranked position on 15 April 2008.[2]

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. During this tournament, Italy were handed their record defeat by Scotland, but they did manage to record one victory, over Serbia at The Old Parish in Maesteg, Wales.[3][4]

In Autumn 2010 Italy embarked on a short tour of Wales, culminating in a match in Wrexham on October 6 in which they faced Wales for the first time in a full Rugby League international. The Italian side obtained a remarkable 13–6 victory, the first against a national team of the British Isles.[5]

In 2013 they won a warm up match against 3rd ranked England 15–14 making it their most stunning victory.[6]

2013 World Cup Qualifying

Official Rankings as of December 2013[7]
RankChangeTeamPoints
1 Steady  Australia 1,108.00
2  New Zealand742.00
3  England 570.00
4  France 233.00
5 Increase  Fiji 201.00
6 Decrease  Wales 173.00
7  Papua New Guinea 166.00
8  Samoa 145.00
9 Steady  Ireland 128.00
10  United States 127.00
11 Decrease  Scotland 101.00
12 Increase  Italy 84.00
13 Decrease  Tonga 54.00
14  Cook Islands 48.00
15  Russia 42.00
16 Steady  Canada 40.00
17 Decrease  Serbia 38.00
18  Germany 30.00
19  Norway 28.00
20  Lebanon 23.00
21 Increase Ukraine 19.00
22 Decrease  Malta 19.00
23  Jamaica 15.00
24 Increase Netherlands 10.00
25 Decrease  South Africa 8.00
26  Denmark 6.00
27  Czech Republic 5.00
28 Increase New Greece 5.00
29 Decrease  Belgium 4.00
30  Latvia 4.00
31  Sweden 1.00
32 Steady New  Hungary 1.00
33 Steady New  Morocco 0.00

In 2011, Italy contested the qualifying tournament for the 2013 Rugby League World Cup, competing against Russia, Serbia and Lebanon. Coached by Carlo Napolitano and captained by Anthony Minichiello, Italy's draw with Lebanon was enough for them to gain the 14th and final place in the 2013 World Cup.[8]

2013 World Cup Squad

Italy squad for the 2013 Rugby League World Cup. The azurri will play Scotland and Tonga and then play an inter-group game against Wales.

2013 World Cup Squad
First team squad Coaching staff

Head coach


Legend
  • (c) Captain
  • (vc) Vice captain

Updated: 24 September 2013
Source(s): 2013 World Cup Squad

Competitions

Italy or Italy A has participated in:

Results

Year Date Result Venue City Crowd Competition
201310 November Tonga def. Italy 16-0 The ShayHalifax10,266 2013 Rugby League World Cup
20133 November Italy drew with Scotland 30-30 Derwent ParkWorkington7,280 2013 Rugby League World Cup
201326 October Italy def. Wales 32-16 Milennium StadiumCardiff45,052 2013 Rugby League World Cup
201319 October Italy def. England 15–14 Salford City StadiumSalford4,382 Rugby League International Test Match
201314 September Italy def. Serbia 32–20 Stadio AugusteoEste Rugby League European Shield
201327 July Italy def. Germany 66–30 Nordstern StadionKarlsruhe Rugby League European Shield
201326 May Italy def. Barbarian Warriors RL 24–4 Stadio San GiorgioPalmi1,000Rugby League International Test Match
20128 September Russia def. Italy 32–18 SK Nara StadiumNaro-Fominsk Rugby League European Shield
20127 July Italy def. Germany 72–10 Stadio BeltramettiPiacenza Rugby League European Shield
20129 June Serbia def. Italy 24–16 Ada CiganlijaBelgrade Rugby League European Shield
201129 October Italy drew with Lebanon 19–19 Makiš StadiumBelgrade, Serbia 2013 Rugby League World Cup Qualification Tournament
201123 October Italy def. Serbia 52–6 Makiš StadiumBelgrade 2013 Rugby League World Cup Qualification Tournament
201115 October Italy def. Russia 92–6 Stadio Communale del PlebiscitoPadova2,1002013 Rugby League World Cup Qualification Tournament
20106 October Italy def. Wales 13–6 Racecourse Ground Wrexham2,971Rugby League International Test Match
201025 September Italy def. Lebanon 24–16 Stadio PlebiscitoPadova ??? Rugby League International Test Match
201022 September Lebanon def. Italy 16–8 Campo Rugby MonseliceMonselice ??? Rugby League International Test Match
20098 November Italy def. Serbia 42–14The Old ParishMaesteg, Wales around 2000 Rugby League European Cup
200924 October Lebanon def. Italy 86–0International Olympic StadiumTripoli500Rugby League European Cup
200917 October Scotland def. Italy 104–0Stadio PlebiscitoPadova2,139Rugby League European Cup
200917 October Greece A def. Italy A 34–10Marconi StadiumSydneyaround 2500 Aus-Med Shield Final
200910 October Italy A def. Malta A 34–10Marconi StadiumSydney around 2500 Aus-Med Shield
200918 July Italy def. Germany 42–30Stadio PlebiscitoPadova European Shield
200911 July Italy def. Czech Republic 38–8Stadio PlebiscitoPadova European Shield
20096 June Morocco def. Italy 32–10
200812 July Italy def. Czech Republic 38–18Stadio PlebiscitoPadova European Shield
200813 JuneItaly def. Germany 58–26Stadio PlebiscitoPadova European Shield
200812 JuneBARLA def. Italy 64–0Stadio PlebiscitoPadova Simone Franchini Nines
200613 JuneSouth Africa def. Italy 60–20 Monselice Simone Franchini Nines
200612 JuneSouth Africa def. Italy 76–6Monselice Simone Franchini Nines
20069 JuneBARLA "B" def. Italy 38–18 Monselice Simone Franchini Nines
20064 FebruaryItaly A def. USA 38–6Marconi StadiumSydney2,000Columbus Cup
20042 OctoberItaly def. Greece 58–14Marconi StadiumSydney Ionio Cup
20032 OctoberItaly def. Greece 26–24Kogarah Jubilee OvalSydney around 3000 Ionio Cup
200311 JulyScotland A def. Italy 30–10
2002 Tartarstan/Russia def. Italy 16–12
200020 NovemberBARLA def. Italy 64–0DewsburyDewsbury 2000 Rugby League Emerging Nations Final
200017 NovemberItaly def. USA 40–16The ShayHalifax, West Yorkshire 2000 Rugby League Emerging Nations Tournament
200015 NovemberItaly def. Canada 66–6Cougar ParkKeighley???2000 Rugby League Emerging Nations Tournament
199917 NovemberItaly def. France 14–10
199914 November Italy def. Morocco 34–0
199911 NovemberLebanon def. Italy 36–16
196024 January Australia def. Italy 67–22Stadio TenniTreviso 3,105
196023 January Australia def. Italy 37–15Stadio Euganeo Padua 3,500
195115 April France Amateurs def. Italy 29–17Cahors
19502 September South Wales XIII def. Italia XIII 29–11Brewery FieldBridgend
195026 AugustWigan def. Italia XIII 49–28Central ParkWigan

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 46 23 21 2 50.00%

See also

References

  1. ↑ Italia Rugby League History
  2. ↑ RLEF – Italy Profile
  3. ↑ European Cup Relegation Match Report – Italy – Serbia
  4. ↑ Italy V Serbia Match Details
  5. ↑ http://www.rleague.com/db/article.php?id=37814
  6. ↑ http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/oct/19/england-italy-rugby-league-world-cup-warm-up
  7. ↑ RLIF; RLIF Rankings
  8. ↑ skysports.com (29 October 2011). "Italy clinch World Cup place". Sky Sports. Retrieved 30 October 2011. 

External links

Test Nations
Affiliate Nations
Unaffiliated Nations
International
Competitions
Awards and Rankings
Teams List
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