Italian Rugby Federation

Italian Rugby Federation
Federazione Italiana Rugby
Sport Rugby union
Founded 1928
WR affiliation 1987
FIRA affiliation 1934
President Alfredo Gavazzi
Men's coach Jacques Brunel
Women's coach Andrea Cococcetta and
Giampiero Granatelli
Official website www.federugby.it

The Italian Rugby Federation (Italian: Federazione Italiana Rugby) or FIR is the governing body for the sport of rugby union in Italy. The FIR has one seat on the 28 member IRB Council, the governing body of the International Rugby Board. (All other members of the Six Nations have two seats on the IRB Council).

There are two fully professional Italian clubs that play in the Pro 12 and in the Heineken Cup - Benetton Rugby Treviso and Zebre. There are twelve semi-professional Italian clubs that play in the National Championship of Excellence, four of which qualify to play in the European Challenge Cup.

History

On 25 July 1911 a "Propaganda Committee" was formed to promote the sport of rugby union in Italy. In 1928 this body became the Federazione Italiana Rugby (FIR). In 1934 the Federazione Italiana Rugby were founder members of the Fédération Internationale de Rugby Amateur.

The FIR joined the International Rugby Board (IRB) in 1987 when they took part in the inaugural World Cup. The Italy national rugby union team have played in the Six Nations Championship since 2000.

Italy bid to host the 2015 Rugby World Cup came close to winning but lost to England by just three votes.[1]

Leadership

National teams

The Italian Rugby federation is responsible for fielding several national teams:

See also

References

  1. ↑ ESPN Scrum, Italian rugby chief wades into euro row, Sep. 20, 2012, http://www.espnscrum.com/heineken-cup-2012-13/rugby/story/170055.html

External links