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 (the Blues). Italy have been playing international rugby since the late 1920s, and today are considered to be in the top tier of European rugby and compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.South Africa vs Italy
26-06-2010 from 13:00 until 15:00 GMT
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Arguably, Italian Rugby really came to prominence in 2000 when it was added to the Five Nations, creating the Six Nations. Originally on the end of some heavy defeats, the side has grown in competitiveness, recorded a fourth place finish in 2007, and even in defeat, lop-sided losses are becoming far less frequent. Italy are ranked eleventh in the world by the IRB as of 17 March 2010.
Italy have also competed at every Rugby World Cup since the first tournament in 1987, but have yet to progress beyond the first round. Their best showing thus far has been in 2003 and 2007 where they managed two wins during the pool stages.
The current head coach is Nick Mallett. Number eight Sergio Parisse is their current captain.
South Africa Rugby Players
Christiaan Roets, JP Du Plessis, Jamie Bloem(Fullback/Wing) Mario Du Toit, Fred Griffiths, Michael Horak, Rubert Jonker, Len Killeen, Weldon Saayman, Jarrod Saffy, Tom van Vollenhoven(Wing), Jan Prinsloo, Fred Anderson(Hooker), Johan Burger, Gielie de Swardt, Colin Greenwood, Allan Heldsinger, Andre Louder, David Barends, Fanie Bredenhann, Gert Coetzer, Rynard Pretorius, Alan Skene, Tiaan Strauss, Ryan Hoffman, Jay Hoffmanm, Franco Vermeulen, Hendrik (Drikkie)Mulder, Francios Cloete, Jaco Webb, Jaco Booysen, HP Erasmus, Leon Barnard, Izak Meyer
Italy Rugby Players
Dominic Brambani, Eduardo Lernam, Angelo Ricci, Jonathan Marcinzack, Marco Ferrazzano, Jason Dubas-Fisher, Cyril Armani, Alex D’aprile, Filippo Maserati, Matthew Sands, Mauro Di Maggio, Paul Stanica, Fabio Berzieri, Daniele Pasqualini, Giovanni Franchi, Filippo Veronese, Filippo Righetto, Claudio Forte, Pier Luigi Gentile, Matteo Foschi, Nicolino Facco, Aidan Guerra, Chris Borgese, Mark Dalle Cort, Anthony Severin, Paul Franze, Daniele Gnata, Ludovico Torreggiani, Andrea Zacchia, Franco Kmet.
