Rugby Roma Olimpic
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| Full name | Rugby Roma Olimpic 1930 a r.l. | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Union | Federazione Italiana Rugby | ||
| Founded | 1930 | ||
| Disbanded | 2011 | ||
| Location | Rome, Italy | ||
| Ground(s) | Stadio Tre Fontane (Capacity: 4.000) | ||
| League(s) | n/a | ||
| 2010-11 | 6th (Excellence) and winner of the Trofeo Eccellenza for the second time | ||
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The Rugby Roma Olimpic 1930 (italian for Amateur Sport Club Rugby Roma Olimpic ) is a former Italian professional rugby union team. Based in Rome, the senior team competed in the Italian top tier competition, the Super 10 (now National Championship of Excellence). Rugby Roma's home ground was the Tre Fontane Stadium, located in the Roman south-western suburb of EUR.
The club won 5 Italian titles, in 1935, 1937, 1948, 1949 and 2000, and competed in the 2000-01 Heineken Cup, though losing all the matches in their 1st stage pool.
In the last season 2010-11 Rugby Roma's head coaches were Danie De Villiers and Jaco Stoumann.
At the end of the 2010-11 season, after the winner of the Trofeo Eccellenza 2010-2011, the club was disbanded for financial difficulties.
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 a new coach Dick Greenwood during the 70's. The club also toured East Africa in 1976, playing games against teams like East Africa and Scorpions RFC. Rugby Roma qualified for the Italian 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, in the 2008-2009 season the club returned to the top tier of Italian Rugby. In 2009 they joined with Capitolina to form Futura Park Rugby Roma.
In the spring of 2011 the club closed down as a result of financial difficulties.
Honours
- National Championship of Excellence:
- Champions: 1934-35, 1936-37, 1947-48, 1948-49, 1999-2000
- Coppa Italia:
- Champions: 1997-98, 2010-11 (Trofeo Eccellenza)
References
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