Italy

[Druzik]

New Italian website

www.firl.it/

[Druzik]

have got a tentaive confirmation that Italy and Morroco will play a game in France June next year.

[rhino]

Great .

Will be interesting to see how things move forward now internationally after this world cup

Hope I have this right but if Ireland win they will be ranked 4th in the world and the worst Scotland can do is 8th in the world, 7th if they win

[Druzik]

well its the ranks in the WC... but overall over the year I am not sure.

[Druzik]

Just recieved this from Tizziano at italian Rugby League.


Stagione 2009

• 6 giugno 2009 Lyon

ITALIA -- MAROCCO


• 13 giugno 2009 Monselice

IV Memorial Simone Franchini


• Sabato 20 giugno 2009 Monselice

ITALIAN LEAGUE


• Sabato 27 giugno 2009 Jesolo

ITALIAN LEAGUE

• Sabato 11 luglio 2009 Jesolo

ITALIA – REP. CECA


• Sabato 18 luglio 2009 Frankfurt

GERMANIA – ITALIA


• 10 ottobre 2009 Sidney

MEDITERRANEAN CUP in Australia


• 17 ottobre 2009 Sidney

MEDITERRANEAN CUP in Australia

[jim]

Feb 3, 2009 0:05:23 GMT 10 Druzik said:

Just recieved this from Tizziano at italian Rugby League.


Stagione 2009

• 6 giugno 2009 Lyon

ITALIA -- MAROCCO


• 13 giugno 2009 Monselice

IV Memorial Simone Franchini


• Sabato 20 giugno 2009 Monselice

ITALIAN LEAGUE


• Sabato 27 giugno 2009 Jesolo

ITALIAN LEAGUE

• Sabato 11 luglio 2009 Jesolo

ITALIA – REP. CECA


• Sabato 18 luglio 2009 Frankfurt

GERMANIA – ITALIA


• 10 ottobre 2009 Sidney

MEDITERRANEAN CUP in Australia


• 17 ottobre 2009 Sidney

MEDITERRANEAN CUP in Australia

OK I can translate pretty everything in there except for the months. I'll going to guess luglio is July and giugno is june.

Anyway looks a decently filled schedule, hopefully the "Italian League" goes ahead. It's also good to see the Euro Shield will be happening again.

[Spider]

Feb 3, 2009 0:05:23 GMT 10 Druzik said:

Season 2009

• 6th June 2009, Lyon
ITALY v MOROCCO

• 13th June 2009, Monselice
IV Memorial Simone Franchini

• Saturday, 20th June 2009, Monselice
ITALIAN LEAGUE

• Saturday, 27th June 2009, Jesolo
ITALIAN LEAGUE

• Saturday, 11th July 2009, Jesolo
ITALY v CZECH REPUBLIC

• Saturday, 18th July 2009, Frankfurt
GERMANY v ITALY

• 10th October 2009, Sidney
MEDITERRANEAN CUP in Australia

• 17th October 2009, Sidney
MEDITERRANEAN CUP in Australia

[kuwaitikev]

So the Morocco game is getting close, any updates on possible squads?

[jim]

Really off topic but I think if the IRL was inclined they could probably fast-track Italy into a decent side. Whether that's a bad or good thing I'm not sure. Bad side is it keeps locals out of the international team, good side is Italian people will be more inclined to watch and take interest if they had SL,NL or NRL players.

Just a thought.

[kuwaitikev]

It will be interesting to see the make up of the Italian squad for the Med Cup in Sydney. Will they use a lot of the players who play in the European Shield for scout around Aussie for almost a whole new side?

[Marv]

You gotta say Kev that since the comp is in sydney most sides will be predominantly Australian. Cost of taking over local players when quality players are availible already could be unworkable. wether or not they choose to develop some of their domestic players within that mainly Aussie squad will remain to be seen.

Maybe a 4/5/6 domestic player rule would be good and would reward sides for development.

[jim]

ITALIANS ON COURSE FOR EUROPEAN SHIELD DEFENCE
Sunday 12th July 2009


ITALY 38 CZECH REPUBLIC 8 – Lido de Jesolo



The Czech Republic’s hopes of claiming the Rugby League European Shield, following their convincing win over Germany last week, were left in tatters after holders Italy put in a clinical performance in Jesolo, near Venice.



The defending champions were convincing 38-8 winners against a determined but ultimately outgunned Czech Republic outfit, who fell away in the face of a second half onslaught.



Italian coach Tiziano Franchini was pleased that his new-look side had overcome a tough obstacle.



“It was a very good game” he said. “We knew the Czechs were coming to win the European Shield and they were very aggressive but we were able to match them.”



“I am happy about the development of new players this year with eight of the 17 drawn from our local clubs and new to the national team.”



“They have a good chance to grow with the game now, they're in love with Rugby League.”



Former Keighley Cougar Marco Ferrazzano was the Azzurri's architect of victory, punching large holes in the visitors' defence and scoring two long-range tries in the second period against the brave Czech rearguard.



By that time, however, the game was beyond the men in red, and they were in part responsible for their own demise through a series of damaging lapses in concentration and discipline that handed Italy the initiative.



Impressive prop Angelo Ricci give the hosts a 4-0 lead after 10 minutes with a storming break and Italy doubled their advantage on the back of three consecutive penalties conceded around play the ball by the visitors.



From that attacking position, Hunslet Hawks forward Jason Dubas-Fisher sliced over running a good line, Filippo Veronese - who had a wayward day with the boot - missing his second conversion.



The visitors halved the lead through Tomas Holovsky on 28 minutes, capitalising on the determined start they had made to the game to catch the home defence back-pedalling.



Another of Italy’s English-based players, full back Eduardo Lerna then took advantage of one of the rare instances of sloppy Czech defending when he cut through on 33 minutes, Veronese's conversion making it 14-4 at the interval.



Still in the game, the Czech's immediately self-destructed at the re-start, sending the kick off to the second half out on the full and, within a minute, conceding a try to stylish centre Cyril Armani.



It was a decisive moment which put the game mentally beyond the Czechs who, despite holding out bravely for another ten minutes, conceded two tries in quick succession just before the hour to Nicola Facco and Ricci, as the blue-and-whites took control.



Ferrazzano, who along with Ricci had set a solid platform in the middle for Italy's backs, then went on the rampage bursting through on 62 minutes after yet another Czech penalty and then again seven minutes later.



Fittingly, the Czechs - who had registered their maiden international victory last week - had the last word when young winger Christian Ernst hacked ahead and won the race to the ball to touch down as the hooter sounded.



Czech supremo Milan Myrtinek was realistic in his appraisal. “Credit must go to the better side” he commented, “we couldn't cope with their class, especially in the second half.”



“We wanted it so much but errors cost us dearly, if you can't convert your attacking positions you won't win.”



“Overall I was very happy, though. We had five boys from the army who have only been playing for two and a half months and who had no previous rugby experience at all.”



“We've shown a bit of courage and endured a bit of pain; we weren't able to lick the ice cream but tasted the dirty water.”



Italy travel to Huerth, outside Cologne, next weekend in pole position to reclaim their crown.



ITALY

1 Eduardo Lerna

2 Marzio Ferraro

3 Giovanni Franchi

4 Cyril Armani

5 Christian Gigliodoro

6 Marco Pozzebon

7 Filippo Veronese

8 Angelo Ricci

9 Jonathon Marcinzack

10 Fabio Berzieri (C)

11 Matthew Sands

12 Marco Ferrazzano

13 Jason Dubas-Fisher

Subs

14 Paul Stanica

15 Mauro DiMaggio

16 Daniele Pasqualini

17 Nicola Facco



Tries: Ricci (10, 56), Dubas-Fisher (19), Lerna (33), Armani (41), Facco (52), Ferrazzano (62, 69)

Goals: Veronese 3/8



CZECH REPUBLIC

1 Marcel Mana

2 Kristian Ernst

3 Richard Hladik

4 Tadeas Hrcko

5 Martin Giel

6 Pavel Havratil

7 Patrik Poledna

8 Ivo Dostal

9 Andrew Mulhall

10 Premec Bradle

11 Tomas Holovsky

12 Tomas Kurka

13 Josef Kucera (C)

Subs

14 David Lahic

15 Pavel Zemanek

16 Tomas Zezula

17 Jan Valouch



Tries: Holovsky (28), Ernst (79)

Goals: Havratil 0/2



Men of the match:

ITALY - Marco Ferrazzano CZECH REPUBLIC - Tomas Holovsky

Half time: 14-4

Penalties: Italy 12, Czech 10

Referee: Phil Huck (RFL)

Touch Judges: Andrej Kosicky (CZARL), Mirko Pellegrini (FIRL)

[Ryan N]

Jun 12, 2009 17:57:12 GMT 10 Marv said:

Maybe a 4/5/6 domestic player rule would be good and would reward sides for development.

I agree with that. Every team in the "Mediterranean Cup" should have at least 4 or 5 locals. They should implement it or something. I'm sure Italy can do it easily, Malta, Greece and Portugal would be issues, but something could be worked out.

[sportsmad]

i asked Carlo Napolitano, Federazione Italiana Rugby League XIII
Technical Director / Head Coach what are the plans for italian RL for the next 10 years and what world cup he would be targetting on an alternate forum. this was his response:

Sportsmad,

Thanks for your question. We are planning for the World Cup in 2013, however i think we must concentrate on our participation in the 2010 European Cup. We are now looking forward to having 12 months to plan instead of 2 months (as we replaced Russia). We will discuss plans with the whole of the FIRL committee and see how we can include players who want to play for Italy and who are of the highest standard and also include our Italian domestic players to try to increase their standard.

We will give opportunity to any player who wants to represent Italy under the rules set place by the RLEF and RLIF. I would like to compete well in the Euro Cup and WC Qualifiers whilst increasing our domestic standards.

I hope i answered your question.