Zebre

Zebre
Union Italian Rugby Federation
Nickname(s) The XV of the North-West
Founded 1973 (as Invitational Team – disbanded in 1997)
2012 (2012) (as Professional Team)
Location Parma, Italy
Ground(s) Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma (Capacity: 5,000)
President Andrea Dalledonne
Coach(es) Michael Bradley
Captain(s) Tommaso Castello
League(s) Pro14
2016–17 12th
1st kit
2nd kit
Official website
www.zebrerugbyclub.it

Zebre (Italian pronunciation: [ˈdzɛbre], meaning "Zebras"), are an Italian professional rugby union team competing in the Pro14 and EPCR competitions from the 2012–13 season.[1] They are based in Parma (Emilia-Romagna), Italy. They are operated by the Italian Rugby Federation (FIR) and replaced Aironi in the Pro12.[2][3][4][5][6]

Zebre, often referred to as "the XV of the North-West" (Italian: il XV del Nord-Ovest), represents the four committees of Emilia-Romagna, Liguria, Lombardy and Piedmont, which includes tens of thousands of members and several clubs.[7]. From 2018, it represents also teams from others committes like Lazio, Marche and Tuscany.[8]

History

The entry of Italian teams into the Celtic League had been proposed for many years. After several failed attempts, there was hope that a deal for Italian entry would be done in time for the 2010–11 season, with the Scots delaying support for entry until changes were made to 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 that 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.[9] Agreement was reached in early March 2010 to allow Italian teams entry to the Celtic League in time for the 2010–11 season.[10] The clubs will also be guaranteed places in the annual Heineken Cup, which had previously been awarded to the two top teams in the National Championship of Excellence.

Italy have failed to make an impact in the Six Nations Championship since joining in 2000. 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.[11]

After initial applications in 2010, it was proposed that Aironi would join along with a new team, Praetorians Roma,[12] but Benetton 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.[13] However, Pretorians Roma failed to satisfy the evaluators of their financial muscle and Benetton Treviso were nominated in their place.[14]

Aironi struggled in their first season; a surprise European Cup win over Biarritz was the only highlight of a campaign in which they managed only one Pro12 victory. At the end of a second season of struggle on the pitch, Aironi succumbed to financial difficulties off it. Their licence to play both in the European Cup and Pro12 was revoked by the Italian Rugby Federation.[15] The Federation decided against another domestic Italian club taking over the running of the licence, instead opting to maintain complete control of a planned new franchise.[16] In June 2012, it was announced that the new franchise would be known as Zebre and based in Parma.[17]

Zebre did not enjoy much success in their first season, 2012–13, finishing bottom after winless campaigns in both the Pro12 and the Heineken Cup. Although they finished the subsequent 2013-14 season bottom once again, their performance was much improved, seeing their first victory against Cardiff Blues at the Arms Park into Round 3 of Pro12,[18] in a season in which they had five league victories, with their away win in Cardiff followed by home victories against the Ospreys, Edinburgh, Cardiff Blues and Italian Rivals Treviso, who finished the season a single point ahead of Zebre. They fared somewhat worse in 2014-15, managing only 3 victories and finishing bottom of the table for the third season running. In the 2015-16 seasons they again earned five victories including back to back victories against Treviso and a bonus-point victory against the Newport Gwent Dragons. Zebre avoided finishing in last place for the first time.

Honours

Current standings

2018–19 Pro14 Table
Conference A
Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TBP LBP PTS
1Scotland Glasgow Warriors 6501197119+7828145025
2Wales Ospreys 540112594+3114121017
3Ireland Munster 530217482+922593015
4Ireland Connacht 6303126112+1414131215
5Wales Cardiff Blues 5203142120+2215162313
6Italy Zebre 620492146−5412172010
7South Africa Cheetahs 6015119236−1171732215
Conference B
Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TBP LBP PTS
1Ireland Leinster 540115775+822183120
2Scotland Edinburgh 6303134139−514192216
3Ireland Ulster 6312134174–4014211116
4Wales Scarlets 5302148112+3619122115
5Italy Benetton 5203117138−2116162111
6Wales Dragons 520383129−46920019
7South Africa Southern Kings 510497169−721322217
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order -[19]
  1. number of matches won
  2. the difference between points for and points against
  3. the number of tries scored
  4. the most points scored
  5. the difference between tries for and tries against
  6. the fewest red cards received
  7. the fewest yellow cards received

Green background indicates teams that compete in the Pro14 play-offs, and also earn a place in the 2019–20 European Champions Cup
(excluding South African teams who are ineligible)
Blue background indicates teams outside the play-off places that earn a place in the 2019–20 European Champions Cup
Yellow background indicates the fourth-ranked eligible teams in each conference that play-off against each other for the seventh place in the 2019–20 European Champions Cup
Plain background indicates teams that earn a place in the 2019–20 European Rugby Challenge Cup.
(CH) Champions. (RU) Runners-up. (SF) Losing semi-finalists. (QF) Losing quarter-finalists. (PO) Champions Cup play-off winners.

    The team

    Name history

    Founded in 1973 by the former Italian national captain Marco Bollesan, Zebre (English: Zebras) was chosen, in 2012, by the Italian Rugby Federation as the new franchise's name. The name had been used by an invitational select rugby union team based in Northwest Italy that played regular fixtures between 1973 and 1997. In those 23 years, 25 matches were held against international clubs; and resulted in a high number of victories for Zebre. The opening match was an unofficial test played in Milan in 1973 against the Australian team of Randwick Sydney, who won 21–50. Zebre had a memorable 48–38 victory against the Barbarians in Brescia in June 1997.[20]

    Two other former select teams are I Dogi (The Doges) based in Triveneto and I Lupi (The Wolves) based in Central and Southern Italy.[21]

    Stadium and training

    The team play in Parma at the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, the home ground of Crociati Parma and the F.I.R. Academy. Initially, the ground is being refurbished and expanded. Zebre usually hold their summer training camp at Parma University.[22] They played one match in the 2012–13 Pro12 season at Reggio Emilia's Stadio Città del Tricolore, against Leinster.[23] In 2017–18 Pro14 season, Zebre played, against Dragons, at Stadio Tommaso Fattori of L'Aquila, Abruzzo.[24]

    Staff and coaching team

    Players

    Zebre is mostly based on Italian players, rather than foreigners.[25] In 2012, of the initial list of 36 contracted players, only three were ineligible to play for Italy. Nineteen former Aironi players were included in the original squad. An emphasis on youth development was also visible, with a significant portion of the squad being made up of members of the Italian Rugby Federation Academy.[22]

    Current squad

    The Zebre squad for 2018–19 is:[26]

    Note: Flags indicate national union as has been defined under WR eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-WR nationality.

    Player Position Union
    Massimo Ceciliani Hooker Italy Italy
    Oliviero Fabiani Hooker Italy Italy
    Luhandré Luus Hooker Italy Italy
    Cruze Ah-Nau Prop Australia Australia
    Eduardo Bello Prop Argentina Argentina
    Dario Chistolini Prop Italy Italy
    Andrea Lovotti Prop Italy Italy
    Daniele Rimpelli Prop Italy Italy
    Roberto Tenga Prop Italy Italy
    Giosuè Zilocchi Prop Italy Italy
    George Biagi Lock Italy Italy
    Leonard Krumov Lock Italy Italy
    Samuele Ortis Lock Italy Italy
    Matu Tevi Lock Tonga Tonga
    Renato Giammarioli Back row Italy Italy
    Giovanni Licata Back row Italy Italy
    Maxime Mbanda Back row Italy Italy
    Johan Meyer* Back row South Africa South Africa
    Dave Sisi* Back row England England
    Apisai Tauyavuca Back row Fiji Fiji
    Jimmy Tuivaiti* Back row New Zealand New Zealand
    Player Position Union
    Guglielmo Palazzani Scrum-half Italy Italy
    Riccardo Raffaele Scrum-half Italy Italy
    Marcello Violi Scrum-half Italy Italy
    Maicol Azzolini Fly-half Italy Italy
    Francois Brummer Fly-half South Africa South Africa
    Carlo Canna Fly-half Italy Italy
    Giulio Bisegni Centre Italy Italy
    Tommaso Boni Centre Italy Italy
    Tommaso Castello Centre Italy Italy
    Nicolas De Battista* Centre Argentina Argentina
    Paula Balekana Wing Fiji Fiji
    Mattia Bellini Wing Italy Italy
    Gabriele Di Giulio Wing Italy Italy
    Giovanbattista Venditti Wing Italy Italy
    Matteo Minozzi Fullback Italy Italy
    Edoardo Padovani Fullback Italy Italy
    • Players in bold capped internationally.
    • Players qualified to play for Italy on residency or dual nationality. *
    • Players and their allocated positions from the Zebre Rugby Club website.[27][28]
    • Notes:

      Permit player squad

      Additional players selected from Top12[29]

      Note: Bold denotes players who are internationally capped.

      Selected former players

      Former players who have played for Zebre and have caps for their respective country

      Season records

      Pro12

      Season Pos Played Won Drawn Lost Bonus Points
      2012–1312th2200221010
      2013–1412th225215529
      2014–1512th223019315
      2015–1611th225017424
      2016–1712th223019719

      Pro14

      Season Conference Pos Played Won Drawn Lost Bonus Points
      2017–18Conference A7th217014836
      2018–19Conference A7th000000

      European Rugby Challenge Cup

      Season Pool/Round Pos Played Won Drawn Lost Bonus Points
      2014–15Pool 53rd620408
      2015–16Pool 42nd6303113
      2017–18Pool 33rd610548
      2018–19Pool 42nd000000

      Heineken Cup / European Rugby Champions Cup

      Season Pool/Round Pos Played Won Drawn Lost Bonus Points
      2012–13Pool 34th600611
      2013–14Pool 34th600600
      2016–17Pool 24th600600

      See also

      References

      1. ↑ "Zebras to take over from Aironi - The Irish Times - Thu, Jun 07, 2012". The Irish Times. 2012-06-07. Retrieved 2012-11-02.
      2. ↑ "Italian side Aironi to pull out of Pro12 after their licence is revoked". BBC Sport. 2012-04-06.
      3. ↑ "Italy announces new club". Ercrugby.com. 2012-06-07. Retrieved 2012-11-02.
      4. ↑ "Zebre will replace Aironi for Italy - RTÉ Sport". Rte.ie. 2012-06-07. Retrieved 2012-11-02.
      5. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-08-20. Retrieved 2012-06-07.
      6. ↑ "London Wasps sign Italy back Andrea Masi from Aironi". Bbc.co.uk. 2012-07-10. Retrieved 2012-11-02.
      7. ↑ http://www.zebrerugby.eu/io-ci-sono-nasce-la-comunita-della-franchigia-delle-zebre-rugby/
      8. ↑ https://www.zebrerugbyclub.it/zebre-family/
      9. ↑ "Peter Bills: Italian fury at 'insult' after Magners League snub". Independent.ie. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
      10. ↑ "RTÉ Sport: Italian teams to join Magners League". Rte.ie. 2010-03-08. Archived from the original on 2010-04-13. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
      11. ↑ Roberts, Gareth (2009-03-21). "Wales 15-17 Ireland". BBC News. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
      12. ↑ "Aironi and Praetorians set for Magners League | Live Rugby News | ESPN Scrum". Scrum.com. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
      13. ↑ "International Rugby Union | Italy Rugby Union News". Planet Rugby. 2009-07-21. Archived from the original on 2011-09-28. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
      14. ↑ "Italians' bid to join the League not a done deal". The Irish Times. 2009-11-11. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
      15. ↑ "Italian side Aironi to pull out of Pro12 after their licence is revoked". Bbc.co.uk. 2012-04-06. Retrieved 2012-11-02.
      16. ↑ "Tournaments | Magners League | Aironi | Viadana's Pro12 bid rejected". Planet Rugby. Archived from the original on 2012-06-04. Retrieved 2012-11-02.
      17. ↑ "Rugby Union News | New PRO12 team to be called Zebras". Planet Rugby. Retrieved 2012-11-02.
      18. ↑ http://www.rabodirectpro12.com/matchcentre/12879.php
      19. ↑ Competition Rule 3.5 "Summary of Key Rules". Pro14. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
      20. ↑ http://archiviostorico.gazzetta.it/1997/giugno/15/Zebre_battono_Barbarians_ga_0_9706154773.shtml
      21. ↑ https://books.google.com/books?id=mYBtMajLAaAC&pg=RA1-PA424&lpg=RA1-PA424&dq=dogi+rugby+history&source=bl&ots=MawCgSfDaF&sig=uPtpwyMO1iKdc-3t8-TcfJMNaio&hl=it&sa=X&ei=ZXuoU92jJan9ywOKkoKIBg&ved=0CEgQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=dogi%20rugby%20history&f=false
      22. 1 2 http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/news/18452.php
      23. ↑ "Zebre 22 - 41 Leinster Rugby". Pro12. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
      24. ↑ https://www.zebrerugbyclub.it/allaquila-le-zebre-battono-dragons-34-32-davanti-ai-6000-del-fattori/
      25. ↑ "Tournaments | Magners League | Aironi | French coach for new Italian Pro12 team". Planet Rugby. Archived from the original on 2013-11-09. Retrieved 2012-11-02.
      26. ↑ "Archivi La Squadra". Zebre Rugby Club. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
      27. ↑ https://www.zebrerugbyclub.it/la-squadra/
      28. ↑ "Zebre Rugby Club - Guinness PRO14". Pro14. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
      29. ↑ https://www.zebrerugbyclub.it/partita-ufficialmente-la-stagione-201819-dello-zebre-rugby-club-test-col-primo-giorno-test-parma/
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