Italy propose new European club competition

The Italian Rugby Federation (Federazione Italiana Rugby) are open to the possibility of creating a new international club competition with the help of the Georgian, Spanish, Romanian, and Portuguese unions as stated in an interview given by its president Andrea Duodo.

In a recent interview given to the La Gazzetta di Mantova, the newly elected chair of the FIR revealed: “We sent a proposal to Rugby Europe’s new board. It will take some time, but we are looking for the collaboration of Spain, Portugal, Romania and Georgia to make it work.”

The idea had already been discussed in the 2000s and 2010s. However, the proposal never came to fruition as most of the mentioned unions were unable to find a long-term sponsor capable of paying the travelling and accommodation expenses.

The last time an Italian club participated in an international was in 2018 when Rovigo, Viadana, Calvisano and Petrarca competed in the European Rugby Continental Shield. Since then, the Italian clubs have only played in the local competition, while the Georgians, Portuguese, Spanish and Romanian sides found the Rugby Europe Super Cup a way to better prepare their players for the Test match season.

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The Rugby Europe Super Cup kicked off in 2021 and was highlighted by former Portugal’s head coach Patrice Lagisquet as a decisive stepping stone for the European emergent Nations.

The four-time champions Georgian Black Lion franchise were invited to the EPCR Challenge Cup due to their Super Cup performances and claimed successful victories over the Scarlets and Vannes.

The FIR are looking for options and ideas to bolster their club rugby, and a seasonal international competition played against European emergent sides would fulfil that purpose.

However, Andrea Duodo didn’t offer any specifics about how the competition would work, what teams/nations would compete in it and if it would be under Rugby Europe’s or the EPCR’s banner. It is also unclear whether the Dutch, Belgian and Czech franchises will be welcomed to the new competition.

In the last four months, the FIR have undergone a series of changes, namely Zebre’s sale and the decision to host the next U20s Men’s World Cup. More news to follow in the coming months.