Aironi
Encyclopedia
Aironi Rugby are an Italian professional rugby club competing in the RaboDirect Pro12
and the Heineken Cup
. They represent the Italian regions of Lombardy
and Emilia Romagna.
at Stadio Luigi Zaffanella
. It was expected that Reggio Emilia
's Stadio Giglio
would be used for larger games but none have so far requied its near 30,000 capicity. Parma
's Stadio XXV Aprile or Stadio Tardini may also be used.
they wear an all green kit. Their kit is supplied by Adidas
.
division will attract far less sponsorship as the playing talent and public interest will now focus on the Italian teams in the Celtic League.
management structure. In February 2010 it was announced that the planned expansion of the Celtic League was to be put on hold. The reasons were the insistence by existing members that the Italian teams could be ejected after three years. Also the financial demands the league placed on the Italians could not be met. The existing teams said this was to cover the need to have larger squads to cover the extra fixtures and additional travel expenses. Agreement was reached in early March 2010 to allow Italian teams entry to the Celtic League in time for the 2010–11 season. The clubs will also be guaranteed places annually into the Heineken Cup
which had previously been awarded to the two top teams in the Super 10
.
Italy have failed to make an impact in the Six Nations Championship
tournament since joining 10 years ago. This has largely been blamed on the fact their best players do not have a competitive enough domestic tournament or are forced to play abroad. The fact that the Six Nations decider in 2009 between Wales and Ireland featured 42 Celtic League players out of 44 in their squads supported this notion. Most Italian players play in France's Top 14. In order to ensure the new teams deliver players for the national side the Federazione Italiana Rugby
have put incentives in place for the new teams. The successful franchises will receive financial support from the FIR to recruit national team players currently playing abroad and fresh home-grown talent. Signing one of Italy's top players, most of whom play abroad, would net clubs €50,000, while other lesser players, mostly plying their trade in the Italian Super 10 series, would scoop €30,000 and €20,000 bonuses.
It was proposed initially Aironi would join along with a new team Praetorians Roma, but Benetton Rugby Treviso
were nominated instead. Benetton Treviso and Duchi Nord-Ovest could not agree to form one club to represent the Veneto
region and lost out in the first round of bidding despite the region being the traditional home of Italian rugby. However Pretorians Roma failed to satisfy the evaluators of their financial muscle and Benetton Treviso were nominated in their stead. This was boosted by Treviso's defeat of USA Perpignan
in the Heineken Cup
. Praetorians were to be based at the Stadio Flaminio
in Rome
, where Six Nations
matches are currently staged.
. Their coach, Franco Bernini, was sacked in November after a run of disappointing loses. They suffered a number of heavy defeats but often when they did lose they did lose (particularly at home) they did so by a single score. This is evidenced by the 8 Losing Bonus points received in 22 games. They finally registered their first win against French team Biarritz
in December in the Heineken Cup. This was a massive shock as Biarritz had contested the previous year's final. Their first Celtic League win came at home against Connacht
on 26 March, which they won 25-13. They finished bottom of the league in 12th.
2010–11 Heineken Cup pool stage - Pool 4
**
**
**
*
**
* Italian Qualified so not counted as a Non-Italian player in squad
** World Cup Cover
(
Roma) Frans Viljoen (
Cheetahs
) Filippo Ferrarini ( Crociati) Tyson Keats (
Hurricanes) Luciano Orquera
(
Brive
) Naas Olivier ( Cheetahs
) Ruggero Trevisan ( Crociati) Andrea Masi
( Racing-Métro) Carlo Festuccia
( Racing-Métro) Sinoti Sinoti ( Hawkes Bay
)
) Pablo Canavosio
(Rugby Calvisano
) Jaco Erasmus
(Rugby Calvisano
) Luigi Ferraro (Rugby Calvisano
) Danwel Demas (Boland
) Dylan Des Fountain (Lions
) Gareth Krause (retired) Vickus Liebenberg (Aix-en-Provence
) James Marshall
(released) Horacio San Martin
(released) Ulyses Gamboa (released) Julien Laharrague
(released) Riccardo Bocchino
(released) Giulio Rubini (released) Mickey Wilson (released)
Celtic League (rugby union)
The Celtic League is an annual rugby union competition involving professional sides from Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....
and the Heineken Cup
Heineken Cup
The Heineken Cup is one of two annual rugby union competitions organised by European Rugby Cup involving leading club, regional and provincial teams from the six International Rugby Board countries in Europe whose national teams compete in the Six Nations Championship: England, France, Ireland,...
. They represent the Italian regions of Lombardy
Lombardy
Lombardy is one of the 20 regions of Italy. The capital is Milan. One-sixth of Italy's population lives in Lombardy and about one fifth of Italy's GDP is produced in this region, making it the most populous and richest region in the country and one of the richest in the whole of Europe...
and Emilia Romagna.
Home ground
The team play in ViadanaViadana
Viadana may refer to:* Lodovico Grossi da Viadana , an Italian composer, teacher, and Franciscan friar* Viadana, Lombardy, a town in the province of Mantua, Lombardy, northern Italy* Viadana Rugby, a rugby union club based in the town...
at Stadio Luigi Zaffanella
Stadio Luigi Zaffanella
Stadio Luigi Zaffanella is a multi-use stadium in Viadana, Italy. It is currently used mostly for rugby union and football matches. It is the home ground of Aironi for their Celtic League games....
. It was expected that Reggio Emilia
Reggio Emilia
Reggio Emilia is an affluent city in northern Italy, in the Emilia-Romagna region. It has about 170,000 inhabitants and is the main comune of the Province of Reggio Emilia....
's Stadio Giglio
Stadio Giglio
Stadio Giglio is a multi-purpose stadium in Reggio Emilia, Italy. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home ground of A.C. Reggiana 1919. It has also hosted rugby union matches, and will be a "big-match" venue for the newly launched Magners League team Aironi. The stadium...
would be used for larger games but none have so far requied its near 30,000 capicity. Parma
Parma
Parma is a city in the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna famous for its ham, its cheese, its architecture and the fine countryside around it. This is the home of the University of Parma, one of the oldest universities in the world....
's Stadio XXV Aprile or Stadio Tardini may also be used.
Kit
Their primary kit is all black with a silver stripe. Their change kit is white with a silver stripe. In the Heineken CupHeineken Cup
The Heineken Cup is one of two annual rugby union competitions organised by European Rugby Cup involving leading club, regional and provincial teams from the six International Rugby Board countries in Europe whose national teams compete in the Six Nations Championship: England, France, Ireland,...
they wear an all green kit. Their kit is supplied by Adidas
Adidas
Adidas AG is a German sports apparel manufacturer and parent company of the Adidas Group, which consists of the Reebok sportswear company, TaylorMade-Adidas golf company , and Rockport...
.
Member clubs
The formation of the team was made possible by the co-operation of eight existing rugby clubs Rugby Viadana 54%, Colorno 15%, Gran Parma Rugby 10%, Rugby Parma 10%, Noceto 5%, Reggio Emilia 2%, Modena 2% and Mantova 2%. Gran Parma, Rugby Viadana and Colorno have merged as a result of the formation of Aironi to form GranDucato Rugby Parma. Rugby Parma and Noceto have merged to form Crociati (Crusaders) Rugby Parma. These mergers are essential as the Super 10Super 10
Super 10 may refer to:*Super 10 , the national rugby union competition in Italy*Super 10 , a Southern Hemisphere rugby union competition held between 1993 and 1995 which predated the Super 12...
division will attract far less sponsorship as the playing talent and public interest will now focus on the Italian teams in the Celtic League.
History
After several failed attempts there was doubt that a deal for Italian entry would be done in time for the 2010/2011 season, with the Scots delaying support for entry until changes were made to the Celtic LeagueCeltic League (rugby union)
The Celtic League is an annual rugby union competition involving professional sides from Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....
management structure. In February 2010 it was announced that the planned expansion of the Celtic League was to be put on hold. The reasons were the insistence by existing members that the Italian teams could be ejected after three years. Also the financial demands the league placed on the Italians could not be met. The existing teams said this was to cover the need to have larger squads to cover the extra fixtures and additional travel expenses. Agreement was reached in early March 2010 to allow Italian teams entry to the Celtic League in time for the 2010–11 season. The clubs will also be guaranteed places annually into the Heineken Cup
Heineken Cup
The Heineken Cup is one of two annual rugby union competitions organised by European Rugby Cup involving leading club, regional and provincial teams from the six International Rugby Board countries in Europe whose national teams compete in the Six Nations Championship: England, France, Ireland,...
which had previously been awarded to the two top teams in the Super 10
Super 10 (Italian premiership)
The withdrawal of Viadana and Benetton Treviso from the league has been compounded by club mergers. Rugby Viadana, Gran Parma and Colorno have merged to form GranDucato Rugby. Overmach Parma and Noceto have merged to form Crociati, both new clubs to be based in Parma. These changes created 2...
.
Italy have failed to make an impact in the Six Nations Championship
Six Nations Championship
The Six Nations Championship is an annual international rugby union competition involving six European sides: England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....
tournament since joining 10 years ago. This has largely been blamed on the fact their best players do not have a competitive enough domestic tournament or are forced to play abroad. The fact that the Six Nations decider in 2009 between Wales and Ireland featured 42 Celtic League players out of 44 in their squads supported this notion. Most Italian players play in France's Top 14. In order to ensure the new teams deliver players for the national side the Federazione Italiana Rugby
Federazione Italiana Rugby
The Italian Rugby Federation is the governing body for the sport of rugby union in Italy.On 25 July 1911 a "Propaganda Committee" was formed to promote the sport of rugby union in Italy...
have put incentives in place for the new teams. The successful franchises will receive financial support from the FIR to recruit national team players currently playing abroad and fresh home-grown talent. Signing one of Italy's top players, most of whom play abroad, would net clubs €50,000, while other lesser players, mostly plying their trade in the Italian Super 10 series, would scoop €30,000 and €20,000 bonuses.
It was proposed initially Aironi would join along with a new team Praetorians Roma, but Benetton Rugby Treviso
Benetton Rugby Treviso
Benetton Rugby Treviso are an Italian professional rugby union club currently competing in the RaboDirect Pro12 and the Heineken Cup.They are based in Treviso in Veneto, and owned by the Benetton clothing company....
were nominated instead. Benetton Treviso and Duchi Nord-Ovest could not agree to form one club to represent the Veneto
Veneto
Veneto is one of the 20 regions of Italy. Its population is about 5 million, ranking 5th in Italy.Veneto had been for more than a millennium an independent state, the Republic of Venice, until it was eventually annexed by Italy in 1866 after brief Austrian and French rule...
region and lost out in the first round of bidding despite the region being the traditional home of Italian rugby. However Pretorians Roma failed to satisfy the evaluators of their financial muscle and Benetton Treviso were nominated in their stead. This was boosted by Treviso's defeat of USA Perpignan
USA Perpignan
Union Sportive des Arlequins Perpignanais or Unió eSportiva Arlequins de Perpinyà , generally abbreviated as USAP in both languages, is a French rugby union club that plays in the city of Perpignan in Pyrénées-Orientales. The club currently competes in the Top 14, the top level of the French...
in the Heineken Cup
Heineken Cup
The Heineken Cup is one of two annual rugby union competitions organised by European Rugby Cup involving leading club, regional and provincial teams from the six International Rugby Board countries in Europe whose national teams compete in the Six Nations Championship: England, France, Ireland,...
. Praetorians were to be based at the Stadio Flaminio
Stadio Flaminio
The Stadio Flaminio is a stadium in Rome. It lies along the Via Flaminia, three kilometres northwest of the city centre, 300 metres away from the Parco di Villa Glori....
in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, where Six Nations
Six Nations Championship
The Six Nations Championship is an annual international rugby union competition involving six European sides: England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....
matches are currently staged.
2010/11 Debut Season
Aironi had a very difficult debut season. They initially struggled to compete in the Celtic LeagueCeltic League (rugby union)
The Celtic League is an annual rugby union competition involving professional sides from Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....
. Their coach, Franco Bernini, was sacked in November after a run of disappointing loses. They suffered a number of heavy defeats but often when they did lose they did lose (particularly at home) they did so by a single score. This is evidenced by the 8 Losing Bonus points received in 22 games. They finally registered their first win against French team Biarritz
Biarritz Olympique
Biarritz Olympique Pays Basque is a French professional rugby union team based in the Basque city of Biarritz, Aquitaine which competes in the Top 14 and the Heineken Cup...
in December in the Heineken Cup. This was a massive shock as Biarritz had contested the previous year's final. Their first Celtic League win came at home against Connacht
Connacht Rugby
Connacht Rugby is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Connacht that competes in the RaboDirect Pro12 comprising teams from the Celtic nations plus Italy. Normally, it also competes in the second-tier pan-European club competition, the European Challenge Cup...
on 26 March, which they won 25-13. They finished bottom of the league in 12th.
2010–11 Heineken Cup pool stage - Pool 4
| Team | P | W | D | L | Tries for | Tries against | Try diff | Points for | Points against | Points diff | TB | LB | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biarritz Biarritz Olympique Biarritz Olympique Pays Basque is a French professional rugby union team based in the Basque city of Biarritz, Aquitaine which competes in the Top 14 and the Heineken Cup... (4) |
6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 16 | 9 | +7 | 140 | 86 | +55 | 4 | 2 | 22 |
| Ulster Ulster Rugby Ulster Rugby, usually referred to simply as Ulster, is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Belfast, representing the Irish province of Ulster, that competes in the RaboDirect Pro12 and also competes in the Heineken Cup... (8) |
6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 8 | +7 | 145 | 93 | +52 | 2 | 0 | 22 |
 BathBath Rugby Bath Rugby is an English professional rugby union club that is based in the city of Bath. They play in the Aviva Premiership league... |
6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 20 | 8 | +12 | 147 | 108 | +39 | 3 | 3 | 14 |
| Aironi |
6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 30 | −26 | 65 | 211 | −146 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
Current squad 2011-12
****
**
**
*
**
In for 2011/12
Tommaso D'ApiceTommaso D'Apice
Tommaso D'Apice is an Italian rugby union footballer who plays as a hooker. D'Apice was part of the Italian squad at the 2011 Rugby World Cup and joined Aironi after the tournament.-External links:**...
(
Roma) Frans Viljoen ( CheetahsCentral Cheetahs
The Central Cheetahs, known for sponsorship reasons as the Toyota Cheetahs, is a South African rugby union team that entered the Super Rugby competition in 2006. The franchise area encompasses the Free State and Northern Cape. In terms of Currie Cup unions, the Cheetahs draw from Free State...
) Filippo Ferrarini (
Crociati) Tyson Keats ( Hurricanes) Luciano OrqueraLuciano Orquera
Luciano Orquera is an Argentine-Italian rugby union player. He plays as a fly-half for Aironi, an Italian club in the Celtic League.....
(
BriveCA Brive
Club Athlétique Brive Corrèze Limousin is a French rugby union team founded in 1910 and based in Brive-la-Gaillarde in the département of Corrèze of the Limousin région . They wear black and white and play in the Stade Amédée-Domenech .- History :The club was created on 15 March 1910 established on...
) Naas Olivier (
CheetahsCentral Cheetahs
The Central Cheetahs, known for sponsorship reasons as the Toyota Cheetahs, is a South African rugby union team that entered the Super Rugby competition in 2006. The franchise area encompasses the Free State and Northern Cape. In terms of Currie Cup unions, the Cheetahs draw from Free State...
) Ruggero Trevisan (
Crociati) Andrea MasiAndrea Masi
Andrea Masi is an Italian rugby union footballer. His usual position is in the centres but he has also played at fly-half and at full-back. He currently plays for the Italian franchise in the RaboDirect Pro12, Aironi...
(
Racing-Métro) Carlo FestucciaCarlo Festuccia
Carlo Festuccia is an Italian rugby union footballer. He started playing for L'Aquila Rugby, then moved to Gran Rugby. With both teams he competed in the Super 10 in Italy. His usual position is at hooker....
(
Racing-Métro) Sinoti Sinoti ( Hawkes BayHawke's Bay Rugby Union
The Hawke's Bay Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in the Hawke's Bay region of New Zealand. The union is based in Napier.-Representative rugby:...
)
Out for 2011/12
Aldo Birchall (Rugby CalvisanoRugby Calvisano
Rugby Calvisano are an Italian rugby union club currently competing in National Championship of Excellence.They are based in Calvisano , in Lombardy....
) Pablo Canavosio
Pablo Canavosio
Pablo Canavosio is an Italian Argentine rugby union footballer. He currently plays for Aironi in the Italian Magners League. Previously, Canavosio played club rugby in Italy, for Rovigo, Calvisano and Castres Olympique. His usual position is at scrum half or wing.Canavosio has been capped by...
(Rugby Calvisano
Rugby Calvisano
Rugby Calvisano are an Italian rugby union club currently competing in National Championship of Excellence.They are based in Calvisano , in Lombardy....
) Jaco Erasmus
Jaco Erasmus
Jaco Erasmus is an South African-born Italian rugby union naturalized player.Erasmus currently plays for Rugby Viadana where he gained qualification for the Italian national team...
(Rugby Calvisano
Rugby Calvisano
Rugby Calvisano are an Italian rugby union club currently competing in National Championship of Excellence.They are based in Calvisano , in Lombardy....
) Luigi Ferraro (Rugby Calvisano
Rugby Calvisano
Rugby Calvisano are an Italian rugby union club currently competing in National Championship of Excellence.They are based in Calvisano , in Lombardy....
) Danwel Demas (Boland
Boland Cavaliers
The Boland Cavaliers , are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament...
) Dylan Des Fountain (Lions
Golden Lions
The Golden Lions is a provincial rugby team based in Johannesburg, South Africa. The team was originally known as Transvaal, before changes to the political landscape in South Africa forced a name change to the Gauteng Lions, before again being changed to the Golden Lions. For sponsorship reason...
) Gareth Krause (retired) Vickus Liebenberg (Aix-en-Provence
Pays d'Aix RC
Pays d'Aix RC is a French rugby union club currently playing in Pro D2, the second tier of the country's professional system. They arrived in Pro D2 for the 2009–10 season after earning promotion from the top amateur league, Fédérale 1....
) James Marshall
James Marshall
James Marshall may refer to:*James W. Marshall , discovered gold in California in 1848*James Marshall , Victoria Cross recipient*James Marshall , American television producer and director...
(released) Horacio San Martin
Horacio San Martin
Horacio San Martín is an Argentine rugby union footballer. He plays in the centre position. His test debut was against Wales at the Millennium Stadium in November 2009...
(released) Ulyses Gamboa (released) Julien Laharrague
Julien Laharrague
Julien Laharrague is a French rugby union footballer, usually playing on the wing or at fullback. He currently plays for Aironi in the Magners League . Laharrague has also played for France....
(released) Riccardo Bocchino
Riccardo Bocchino
Riccardo Bocchino is an Italian rugby union player. Bocchino, who is a fly-half, plays his club rugby for Aironi. He made his debut for Italy against Ireland on 6 February 2010....
(released) Giulio Rubini (released) Mickey Wilson (released)
External links
- Rugby Viadana site http://www.rugbyviadana.it/eng/home.asp
- Aironi site http://www.aironirugby.eu/
- Aironi Rugby official facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/AIRONI-RUGBY/117471038274263
- Aironi Rugby official photo album http://www.flickr.com/people/aironirugby