35
ULSTER
RUGBY
CLUB STATS
//Location
Parma, Italy
//Founded
1973
//Ground
Stadio XXV Aprile, Parma
//Capacity
3,500
//Last Game
Cardiff Blues (H) 26-41 (L)
Sun 7 September, 17:55
//Next Game
Munster Rugby (A)
Fri 19 September, 19:30
//Recent Form
L W W L L
STAFF
//Coach
Andrea Cavinato
//Captain
Gonzalo Garcia
CONTACT
Stadio XXV Aprile
Via San Leonardo 110/a
It all started last Sunday, the third
season of PRO12 Rugby for Zebre
who completed the first round of the
competition at home to Welsh side,
Cardiff Blues. The summer began for
the men in white and black in early
July when many Italian internationals
who took part in the June South
Pacific tour to Fiji, Samoa and Japan
and other players were capped with
the Emerging Italy team in Georgia,
found themselves back in the rugby
city of Parma. The technical guide
has remained in the hands of Andrea
Cavinato, confirmed for the second
season, while the forwards have been
entrusted to new head coach, Victor
Jimenez, former Italy U20s coach.
The pre-season saw Bortolami and
his teammates stay in Italy; joining
a 10-day retreat in the mountains
of the Apennines of Reggio Emilia
in the territory of the franchise. On
800 metres of Castelnuovo ne’ Monti
Zebre, have been able to work well
both on the technical, athletic side of
their game but also on team building.
The club faced its first friendly
against the Italian champions Rugby
Calvisano on the field of Castelnuovo
with a well deserved 42-21 victory.
In the second outing in Rovigo
against the finalists of the last Italian
championship came their second win
by 27 points to 7. Pre-season therefore
provided two great challenges from a
physical point of view that prepared
the boys well for their 2014/15 debut in
the GUINNESS PRO12 league.
On Sunday, Zebre struggled to
maintain their unbeaten home run
against an ambitious Cardiff Blues
side, led by a new Kiwi coach, Mark
Hammett, who avenged the double
defeat of last season by winning a
balanced match in front of a large
audience at the Stadio XXV Aprile in
Parma.
Two Zebre mistakes were immediately
exploited by the Blues who took a
14-0 lead, the men in black and white
were back into the game thanks to an
excellent scrummaging effort that led
to the first try for the former All-Black,
Leonard followed by flanker, Ferrarini.
The lead did not last long thanks to
a great kick from over 50 metres by
Patchell, who was voted man of the
match. In the second half, despite the
great heat, it was a very enjoyable
game which remained in the balance
due to an additional three tries. One
by the Italians and two by the Welsh
which closed the match in favour of
the guests.
The Zebras have maintained the
same backbone of last season, which
ended with five wins and two draws.
This season 12 new athletes have
arrived: international lock Bernabò
came from Treviso while two new
South Africans have arrived from the
Super Rugby franchise the Cheetahs:
Ferreira and Daniller. The center Mirco
Bergamasco, with 89 caps for Italy,
has joined his brother Mauro in Parma
ready for his debut in the GUINNESS
PRO12 while some of the best young
Italians are part of the roster of the
club ready to do battle for a place in
the line-up.
The aim of the tonight’s match is to
deal with one of the best teams in this
tournament trying to play effective
and enjoyable rugby for the many
fans who will be in the stands of the
newly renovated Belfast stadium
for this great event. Good luck to
all the players for the game and a
special greeting to Ulster fans which
we expect to join us in Parma in two
weeks time for the return leg. We hope
they enjoy the unique experience of
Italian rugby on match day.
Leonardo Mussini//
Zebre Rugby
Parma, September 9, 2014
Zebre Rugby are ready to be part
of a key season of Guinness PRO12
zebrerugby
zebrerugby
zebrerugby
zebrerugby
TONIGHT’S
OPPOSITION
