Viadana Rugby
Encyclopedia
Rugby Viadana is an Italian
rugby union
club that until 2010 competed in the Super 10
. They are based in Viadana (province of Mantua
, Lombardy
). The club was established in 1970, and has since won the Italian championship in 2002, and the Coppa Italia
three times. They also compete in European rugby competitions and were runners-up in the European Shield
in 2004. Viadana plays in yellow and black.
Viadana are the largest shareholders in Aironi
, a new team that will compete in the 2010/2011 Magners League. Many of the clubs top players joined Aironi on its formation. As of June 2010 it was announced that will the impending establishment of Aironi the club would no longer compete as a professional club. The senior and U-20 teams would be merged with GranDucato Parma Rugby. Viadana would continue as an independent club but only below U-20 level. The club will maintain a senior team but only an amateur one. Any promising players would be diverted to GranDucato, and ultimately Aironi and the national team.
players. They started in the lowest possible league, Serie D.
In 1980-1981 Viadana won Serie B but after three years the team were relegated back to Serie C. But they bounced back the following year and won promotion back to Serie B. 1986-1987 they won promotion to Serie A2 and finished sixth in their first year. However they were relegated back the following year and didn't return for three years.
They finally won promotion to Serie A in 1998-1999. In their first season Viadana won the Italian Cup and made it to the semi-final of the play-offs. In 2000-2001 they finished third in the league but again lost in the semi-final play-offs to Benetton Treviso
.
In 2002 the Italian championship was reformed with the birth of Super 10
. During this season Viadana finished first and beat favourites Benetton Treviso
in the play-offs to win the title for the first time. They were the first team from outside a provincial capital to do so. They won the Italian Cup a second time in 2003.
In 2004 they became the first (and so far only) Italian team to have made the final of a European competition when they lost the European Shield
final 19-25 to Montpellier. In 2007 they defeated Cammi Calvisano to win their third Coppa Italia. In 2008, despite their relatively experienced team, Viadana were beaten in the semi-finals by Benetton Treviso and subsequently lost out on a lucrative Heineken Cup place.
(New Zealand) Sam Harding
(New Zealand) Carlos Nieto
(Italy
) Kaine Robertson
(Italy
) Pablo Canavosio
(Italy
) Carlo Del Fava
(Italy
) Quintin Geldenhuys
(Italy
) Josh Sole
(Italy
)
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
club that until 2010 competed 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...
. They are based in Viadana (province of Mantua
Province of Mantua
The Province of Mantua is a province in the Lombardy region of northern Italy. Its capital is the city of Mantua.-Communes:It includes 70 comuni , ranging in area from Viadana, with 102.19 km², to Mariana Mantovana, with 8.81 km²....
, 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...
). The club was established in 1970, and has since won the Italian championship in 2002, and the Coppa Italia
Coppa Italia (rugby)
The Coppa Italia is a rugby union competition in Italy for domestic clubs. The competition is second to the Super 10. The competition has been contested annually since 1967, though it was not held from 1974 to 1980, and 1983 to 1994, and again in 1996, 1999 and 2002...
three times. They also compete in European rugby competitions and were runners-up in the European Shield
European Shield
The European Shield was a reprechage tournament for teams knocked out in the first round of the European Challenge Cup in 2002-03 and 2003-04. The name "European Shield" had previously been used for the now renamed European Challenge Cup....
in 2004. Viadana plays in yellow and black.
Viadana are the largest shareholders in Aironi
Aironi
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.- Home ground :...
, a new team that will compete in the 2010/2011 Magners League. Many of the clubs top players joined Aironi on its formation. As of June 2010 it was announced that will the impending establishment of Aironi the club would no longer compete as a professional club. The senior and U-20 teams would be merged with GranDucato Parma Rugby. Viadana would continue as an independent club but only below U-20 level. The club will maintain a senior team but only an amateur one. Any promising players would be diverted to GranDucato, and ultimately Aironi and the national team.
History
They were founded in 1970 as a rugby sector in the Vitellianense Cebogas Multisports Club by some ex-Rugby ParmaParma Rugby
Rugby Parma F.C. is an Italian rugby union club. They are based in Parma in Emilia-Romagna. They were known as Overmach Rugby Parma for sponsorship reasons.-History:...
players. They started in the lowest possible league, Serie D.
In 1980-1981 Viadana won Serie B but after three years the team were relegated back to Serie C. But they bounced back the following year and won promotion back to Serie B. 1986-1987 they won promotion to Serie A2 and finished sixth in their first year. However they were relegated back the following year and didn't return for three years.
They finally won promotion to Serie A in 1998-1999. In their first season Viadana won the Italian Cup and made it to the semi-final of the play-offs. In 2000-2001 they finished third in the league but again lost in the semi-final play-offs to Benetton 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....
.
In 2002 the Italian championship was reformed with the birth of 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...
. During this season Viadana finished first and beat favourites Benetton 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....
in the play-offs to win the title for the first time. They were the first team from outside a provincial capital to do so. They won the Italian Cup a second time in 2003.
In 2004 they became the first (and so far only) Italian team to have made the final of a European competition when they lost the European Shield
European Shield
The European Shield was a reprechage tournament for teams knocked out in the first round of the European Challenge Cup in 2002-03 and 2003-04. The name "European Shield" had previously been used for the now renamed European Challenge Cup....
final 19-25 to Montpellier. In 2007 they defeated Cammi Calvisano to win their third Coppa Italia. In 2008, despite their relatively experienced team, Viadana were beaten in the semi-finals by Benetton Treviso and subsequently lost out on a lucrative Heineken Cup place.
Notable former players
Dion WallerDion Waller
Dion Alan George Waller is a former New Zealand rugby union footballer. He played for the Wellington Lions, Hurricanes, New Zealand Maori and All Blacks...
(New Zealand) Sam Harding
Sam Harding
Samuel Harding is a rugby union footballer who plays at flanker. He was born in Subiaco.In 2002, Harding won a cap with the All Blacks against Fiji....
(New Zealand) Carlos Nieto
Carlos Nieto
This article is about the Italian rugby player. For the Third Watch character, see Carlos Nieto .Carlos Nieto is an Italian Argentine international rugby union player....
(Italy
Italy national rugby union team
The Italy national rugby union team represent the nation of Italy in the sport of rugby union. The team is also known as the Azzurri . Italy have been playing international rugby since the late 1920s, and since 2000 compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland,...
) Kaine Robertson
Kaine Robertson
Paul Kaine Robertson Paul Kaine Robertson Paul Kaine Robertson (born 29 October 1980 in Auckland is a rugby union player from New Zealand who plays rugby union for Aironi, and international rugby for Italy.Robertson moved to Italy in 1998....
(Italy
Italy national rugby union team
The Italy national rugby union team represent the nation of Italy in the sport of rugby union. The team is also known as the Azzurri . Italy have been playing international rugby since the late 1920s, and since 2000 compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland,...
) 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...
(Italy
Italy national rugby union team
The Italy national rugby union team represent the nation of Italy in the sport of rugby union. The team is also known as the Azzurri . Italy have been playing international rugby since the late 1920s, and since 2000 compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland,...
) Carlo Del Fava
Carlo Del Fava
Carlo Antonio Del Fava is a rugby union player. His preferred position is Lock, and he currently plays for Aironi in the Celtic League....
(Italy
Italy national rugby union team
The Italy national rugby union team represent the nation of Italy in the sport of rugby union. The team is also known as the Azzurri . Italy have been playing international rugby since the late 1920s, and since 2000 compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland,...
) Quintin Geldenhuys
Quintin Geldenhuys
Quintin Geldenhuys is a South Africa-born Italian rugby union player. Geldenhuys, who is a lock, acts as captain of the Italian Pro12 franchise Aironi. He made his debut for Italy against Australia on 13 June 2009. He qualified for Italy through residency.-References:...
(Italy
Italy national rugby union team
The Italy national rugby union team represent the nation of Italy in the sport of rugby union. The team is also known as the Azzurri . Italy have been playing international rugby since the late 1920s, and since 2000 compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland,...
) Josh Sole
Josh Sole
Josh Sole is an Italian rugby union player, playing for Aironi in the Celtic League. He has been capped for the Italian national team, making his debut in 2005 against Argentina. His usual position is number 8....
(Italy
Italy national rugby union team
The Italy national rugby union team represent the nation of Italy in the sport of rugby union. The team is also known as the Azzurri . Italy have been playing international rugby since the late 1920s, and since 2000 compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland,...
)
Honours
- Italian championshipSuper 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...
:- Champions: 2002
- Coppa ItaliaCoppa Italia (rugby)The Coppa Italia is a rugby union competition in Italy for domestic clubs. The competition is second to the Super 10. The competition has been contested annually since 1967, though it was not held from 1974 to 1980, and 1983 to 1994, and again in 1996, 1999 and 2002...
:- Champions: 2000, 2003, 2007
- European ShieldEuropean ShieldThe European Shield was a reprechage tournament for teams knocked out in the first round of the European Challenge Cup in 2002-03 and 2003-04. The name "European Shield" had previously been used for the now renamed European Challenge Cup....
:- Runners-up: 2004
- Division 2:
- Promoted: 1998-99
- Division 3:
- Promoted: 1986-87, 1992-93
- Division 4:
- Promoted: 1980-81, 1984-85
- Division 5:
- Promoted: 1971-72
European Challenge Cup
| Season | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | For | Against |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000-01 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 78 | 147 |
| 2001-02 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 120 | 210 |
| (Shield) 2003-04 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 250 | 166 |
| 2003-04 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 41 | 61 |
| 2004-05 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 184 | 50 |
| 2005-06 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 81 | 244 |
| 2006-07 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 114 | 145 |
| 2008-09 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 120 | 126 |
Heineken Cup
| Season | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | For | Against |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002-03 2002-03 Heineken Cup The 2002–03 Heineken Cup was the eighth edition of the Heineken Cup. Competing teams from France, Ireland, Italy, Wales, England and Scotland, were divided into six pools of four, in which teams played home and away matches against each other... |
6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 128 | 348 |
| 2007-08 2007-08 Heineken Cup The 2007–08 Heineken Cup was the 13th edition of the Heineken Cup, the annual rugby union European club competition for clubs from the top six nations in European rugby.The start of the tournament was delayed because of the 2007 Rugby World Cup... |
6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 106 | 208 |
External links
- Official site
- Rugbysti Gialloneri – Viadana Rugby Secondary Teams Official Site (in Italian)
- European Rugby Cup: Viadana