Notes
- ↑ Christian Bezzi player profile Scrum.com
 | This biographical article relating to Italian rugby union is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
Cristian Bezzi (born May 13, 1975 in Reggio Emilia) [1] is an Italian former rugby union player who played for Viadana in the north of Italy until the season 2007-08.
An established international, Bezzi played second fiddle to Santiago Dellapè and Marco Bortolami for the majority of his career. In 2003, Bezzi made the Italy squad to the World Cup in Australia. Since then he has captained Viadana to a number of achievements such as the final of the European Shield in 2004 and qualification for the Heineken Cup in 2007.
On 6 June 2008, Bezzi announced his retirement and now he works as assistant coach of Rugby Reggio Emilia's cadet squad.
| | This biographical article relating to Italian rugby union is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
Rugby Viadana 1970 is an Italian rugby union club based in Viadana. The club was established in 1970, and has since won the Italian championship in 2002, and the Coppa Italia three times. They also compete in European rugby competitions and were runners-up in the European Shield in 2004. Viadana plays in yellow and black. The club did not compete professionally between 2010 and 2012 as they focused their efforts on Aironi. Aironi was based at Viadana's home ground and represented a number of regional teams in the multi-national Celtic League. The FIR withdrew Aironi's licence to play at the end of the 2012, so Viadana reformed as a professional team will play in Italy's top division, the National championship of Excellence, from the 2012–13 season and currently in the Top12.
Pallacanestro Reggiana, also known for sponsorship reasons as UnaHotels Reggio Emilia, is an Italian professional basketball team based in Reggio Emilia, Emilia-Romagna. It plays in the LBA as of the 2022–23 season.
Andrea Masi is a retired Italian rugby union footballer. His usual position was in the centres but he has also played at fly-half and at full-back. His last club before retirement was the English Premiership club Wasps. In a 16-year international career lasting from 1999 to 2015, Masi won 95 caps for the Italy national team, and was a part of their squad at four World Cups in 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015.
Viadana is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Mantua in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 120 kilometres (75 mi) southeast of Milan and about 35 kilometres (22 mi) southwest of Mantua.
The Coppa Italia, from 2011 until 2018 Excellence Trophy, is a rugby union competition in Italy for domestic clubs. The competition is second to the Top12, the Italian national championship. The competition has been contested annually since 1967, though it was not held from 1974 to 1980, and 1983 to 1994, and again in 1996, 1999 and 2002. The first club to win the competition was CUS Roma.
Paul Kaine Robertson is a rugby union player from New Zealand who plays rugby union for Viadana, and international rugby for Italy.
James Hector Love, known as Jim Love, is a New Zealand rugby union coach and a former footballer.
Michael Robert Aldridge is an Australian rugby union player. He plays as a lock. Michael commenced his rugby career in Sydney before moving to Italy to further pursue his career. His mother, Julie Aldridge is of Italian background which allows Michael to have dual Italian and Australian citizenship.
The Valorugby Emilia, previously known as Rugby Reggio, is an Italian rugby union team based in Reggio nell'Emilia, in the Emilia-Romagna region. They currently play in the Top12, after gaining promotion from winning Serie A in the 2015–16 season. Established in Reggio nell'Emilia in 1970 like “Rugby Reggio A.S.D.”, since July 2018 it has changed its name to “Valorugby Emilia S.S.D.”
Aironi Rugby was an Italian professional rugby union team competing in the Pro12 and the Heineken Cup, representing the Italian regions of Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna. It lost its status as a regional side at the end of the 2011–12 season, as the Italian Rugby Federation revoked its licence for financial reasons. They were replaced by Zebre from the 2012–13 season.
Andrea Moretti is a former Italian rugby union player and now an assistant coach of Italy squad. He played as a hooker.
Zebre Parma are an Italian professional rugby union team competing in the United Rugby Championship and EPCR competitions from the 2012–13 season. They are based in Parma (Emilia-Romagna), Italy. They are operated by the Italian Rugby Federation (FIR) and replaced Aironi in the Pro12.
Achille Polonara is an Italian professional basketball player for Virtus Bologna of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A (LBA) and the EuroLeague. He primarily plays at the power forward position.
Federico Ruzza is an Italian professional rugby union player who primarily plays lock for Benetton of the United Rugby Championship.
Luca Bigi is an Italian professional rugby union player who primarily plays hooker for Zebre Parma of the United Rugby Championship. He has also represented Italy at international level, having made his test debut against Scotland during the 2017 Summer Internationals. Bigi has previously played for clubs such as Valorugby Emilia, Viadana, Petrarca, and Benetton in the past.
Juan Ignacio Brex is an Italian-Argentine professional rugby union player who primarily plays centre for Benetton of the United Rugby Championship. He has also represented Italy at international level, having made his test debut against Scotland during the 2023 Six Nations Championship. Brex has previously played for clubs such as San Cirano, Pampas XV, and Viadana in the past.
Iliesa Ratuva Tavuyara is an Fijan born Italian rugby union player. His usual position is as a Wing and he currently plays for Valorugby Emilia in Serie A Elite.
Daniele Rimpelli is an Italian rugby union player. His usual position is as a Prop and he currently plays for Zebre in Pro14.
Andrea Bronzini is an Italian rugby union player. His usual position is as a centre and he currently plays for Viadana in Serie A Elite.
Martin Iñaki Mateu is an Argentine-born Spanish rugby union player. His usual position is as a Centre and he currently plays for Ciencias Sevilla CR.