Aironi
Founded2010
Disbanded2012 (2012)
LocationLombardy & Emilia-Romagna, Italy
Ground(s)Stadio Luigi Zaffanella, Viadana (Capacity: 6,000)
Coach(es)
Rowland Phillips (Head Coach)[1]
Andrea Moretti (Forwards)
Antonio Zanichelli (Backs)
Andrew Scotney (Backs)[2]
Captain(s)Quintin Geldenhuys
League(s)Pro12
2011–1212th
Team kit

Aironi Rugby (Italian pronunciation: [aiˈroni], "herons") 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.[3] They were replaced by Zebre from the 2012–13 season.[4]

Home ground

The team played in Viadana at Stadio Luigi Zaffanella. It was expected that Reggio Emilia's Stadio Giglio would be used for larger games but no games required its near 30,000 capacity.

Kit

The team's primary kit was all black with a silver stripe. Their alternative kit was white with a silver stripe. In the Heineken Cup the players wore an all green kit.[5] Their kit was supplied by Adidas.[6]

Member clubs

The formation of the team was made possible by the co-operation of eight existing rugby clubs Rugby Viadana 54%, Colorno 15%, Gran Parma Rugby 10%, Rugby Parma 10%, Noceto 5%, Reggio Emilia 2%, Modena 2% and Mantova 2%.[7] Gran Parma, Rugby Viadana and Colorno have merged as a result of the formation of Aironi to form GranDucato Rugby Parma.[8] Rugby Parma and Noceto have merged to form Crociati (Crusaders) Rugby Parma.[9][10] These mergers were essential as the Super 10 (now Top12) division would have attracted far less sponsorship.

History

After several failed attempts, there was doubt that a deal for Italian entry into the Celtic League would be completed 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 pust on hold. The reasons were the insistence by existing members that the Italian teams could be ejected after three years. Also the financial demands 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.[11] Agreement was reached in early March 2010 to allow Italian teams entry to the Celtic League in time for the 2010–11 season.[12] The clubs would also be guaranteed places annually into the Heineken Cup that had previously been awarded to the two top teams in the National Championship of Excellence.

Italy had failed to make an impact in the Six Nations Championship tournament since joining 10 years earlier. This was largely blamed on the fact their best players did not have a competitive enough domestic tournament or were 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.[13] Most Italian players played in France's Top 14. In order to ensure the new teams delivered players for the national side the Federazione Italiana Rugby put incentives in place for the new teams. The successful franchises would receive financial support from the FIR to recruit national team players at the time playing abroad and fresh home-grown talent. Signing one of Italy's top players, most of whom play abroad, would net clubs €50,000, while other lesser players, mostly plying their trade in the Italian Super 10 series (Italy's top flight league at the time), would scoop €30,000 and €20,000 bonuses.[14]

It was proposed initially that Aironi would join along with a new team Praetorians Roma,[15] but Benetton Treviso were nominated instead of Roma. 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.[16] However Roma failed to satisfy the evaluators of their financial muscle and Treviso were nominated in their stead.[17] This was boosted by Treviso's defeat of USA Perpignan in the Heineken Cup. Roma were to be based at the Stadio Flaminio in Rome, where Six Nations matches had been staged.

2010–11 Debut Season

Aironi had a very difficult debut season. They initially struggled to compete in the Celtic League. Their coach, Franco Bernini, was sacked in November after a run of disappointing losses.[18] They suffered a number of heavy defeats but often when they did lose (particularly at home) they did so by a single score. This is evidenced by the 8 Losing Bonus points received in 22 games.[19] They finally registered their first win against French team Biarritz in December in the Heineken Cup. This was a massive shock as Biarritz had contested the previous year's final.[20] Their first Celtic League win came at home against Connacht on 26 March, which they won 25–13.[21] They finished bottom of the league in 12th.

Squad

  • Players in bold capped internationally.
  • Players with the symbol * are qualified to play for Italy on residency or dual nationality so not counted as a Non-Italian player in squad.
  • Notes:
    • Players in Italic joined in the winter.

Magners League

Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA Try bonus Losing bonus Pts
1Ireland Munster 221903496327+16944225283
2Ireland Leinster 221516495336+15950255370
3Ireland Ulster 221516480418+6244353267
4Wales Ospreys 221219553418+13556296763
5Wales Scarlets 221219503453+5049435762
6Wales Cardiff Blues 221318479392+8737333360
7Wales Newport Gwent Dragons 2210111444462−1847493449
8Scotland Edinburgh 229013421460−3939442543
9Ireland Connacht 227114394459−6532443639
10Italy Benetton Treviso 229013374502−12829580238
11Scotland Glasgow Warriors 226115401543−14233481633
12Italy Aironi 221021247517−27021520812
Correct as of 7 May 2011
4 September 2010
19:30
(1 BP) Munster Ireland33 – 17Italy Aironi
Report
Musgrave Park
Attendance: 8,426
Referee: Graham Knox
11 September 2010
19:05
(1 BP) Aironi Italy15 – 22Ireland Ulster
Report
Stadio Luigi Zaffanella
Attendance: 4,453
Referee: Stefano Penne
17 September 2010
20:05
(1 BP) Scarlets Wales49 – 10Italy Aironi
Report
Parc y Scarlets
Attendance: 6,123
Referee: John Lacey
25 September 2010
18:30
(1 BP) Ospreys Wales38 – 6Italy Aironi
Report
Liberty Stadium
Attendance: 7,289
Referee: Andy Macpherson
2 October 2010
19:05
(1 BP) Aironi Italy9 – 10Scotland Edinburgh
Report
Stadio Zaffanella
Attendance: 4,053
23 October 2010
18:30
Newport Gwent Dragons Wales36 – 5Italy Aironi
Report
Rodney Parade
Attendance: 5,033
Referee: Andrew McMenemy
29 October 2010
19:05
Aironi Italy3 – 20Wales Cardiff Blues
Report
Stadio Zaffanella
Attendance: 2,900
Referee: Graham Knox
5 November 2010
19:30
Glasgow Warriors Scotland33 – 8Italy Aironi
Report
Firhill Stadium
Attendance: 2,078
27 November 2010
19:05
Aironi Italy17 – 34Wales Scarlets (1 BP)
Report
Stadio Zaffanella
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: Andy MacPherson
3 December 2010
19:00
Connacht IrelandP – PItaly Aironi
Sportsground
24 December 2010
14:30
Benetton Treviso Italy15 – 10Italy Aironi
Report
Stadio di Monigo
Attendance: 3,500
Referee: Carlo Damasco

2010–11 Heineken Cup pool stage - Pool 4

Team P W D L Tries for Tries against Try diff Points for Points against Points diff TB LB Pts
France Biarritz (4) 6402169+714086+554222
Ireland Ulster (8) 6501158+714593+522022
England Bath 6204208+12147108+393314
Italy Aironi 6105430−2665211−146004
8 October 2010
19:30
Ulster Ireland30 – 6Italy Aironi
Try: Trimble 21' m
Humphreys 44' m
Danielli 60' c
Pienaar 67' c
Con: Pienaar (0/2)
Humphreys (2/2)
Pen: Pienaar (2/3) 2', 39'		ReportPen: Mercier (2/3) 5', 17'
Ravenhill, Belfast
Attendance: 7,777
Referee: Chris White (England)
16 October 2010
14:30
Aironi Italy6 – 22England Bath
Pen: Mercier (2/2) 21', 54'ReportTry: Biggs 12' m
Carraro 23' m
Abendanon 36' c
Watson 67' m
Con: Barkley (1/4)
Stadio Luigi Zaffanella, Viadana
Attendance: 4,000
Referee: John Lacey (Ireland)
11 December 2010
14:30
Aironi Italy28 - 27France Biarritz Olympique
Try: Marshall 38' m
Toniolatti 48' c
Pratichetti 63' c
Con: Tebaldi (2/3)
Pen: Tebaldi (2) 3', 31'
Drop: J. Laharrague 78'		ReportTry: Terrain 7' m
Ngwenya 16' c
Balshaw 42' m
Gimenez 58' c
Con: Yachvili (2/4)
Pen: Yachvili 73'
Stadio Luigi Zaffanella
Attendance: 3,000
Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland)
17 December 2010
19:00
Biarritz Olympique France34 - 3Italy Aironi
Try: Bosch 10' c
Penalty try 22' c
Ngwenya 46' c
August 56' c
Con: Yachvili (4/4)
Pen: Yachvili (2/2) 2', 16'		ReportPen: Bocchino (1/2) 60'
Parc des Sports Aguiléra
Attendance: 6,816
Referee: Andrew Small (England)
15 January 2011
14:30
Bath England55 – 16Italy Aironi
Try: Biggs (2) 9' m, 27' c
Watson (2) 20' c, 77' c
Banahan (4) 29' c, 53' c, 58' c, 70' m
Con: Barkley (6/8)
Pen: Barkley (1/1) 2'		ReportTry: Sole 36' c
Con: Marshall (1/1)
Pen: Marshall (3/3) 4', 14', 49'
The Recreation Ground
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Neil Paterson (Scotland)
22 January 2011
14:30
Aironi Italy6 – 43Ireland Ulster
Pen: Tebaldi 37'
Drop: Marshall 26'		ReportTry: Trimble 23' c
Wannenburg (2) 41' c, 46' c
Penalty try 57' c
Henry 67' c
Danielli 78' m
Con: Humphreys (5/6)
Pen: Humphreys (1/2) 3'
Stadio Luigi Zaffanella
Attendance: 3,000
Referee: Christophe Berdos (France)

2011–12 Final Season

Aironi transfers 2011–12
Pos Out In
PR downward-facing red arrow Argentina Ulyses Gamboa (released - joined Scotland Edinburgh)
HK downward-facing red arrow Italy Luigi Ferraro (joined Italy Rugby Calvisano) upward-facing green arrow Italy Carlo Festuccia (from France Racing-Métro)
upward-facing green arrow Italy Tommaso D'Apice (from Italy Roma)
LK downward-facing red arrow South Africa Vickus Liebenberg (joined France Aix-en-Provence)
FL downward-facing red arrow Italy Aldo Birchall (joined Italy Rugby Calvisano)
downward-facing red arrow South Africa Gareth Krause (retired - but then joined South Africa Border Bulldogs in 2012)		 upward-facing green arrow South Africa Frans Viljoen (from South Africa Cheetahs)
upward-facing green arrow Italy Filippo Ferrarini (from Italy Crociati)
N8 downward-facing red arrow Italy Jaco Erasmus (joined Italy Rugby Calvisano)
SH downward-facing red arrow Italy Pablo Canavosio (joined Italy Rugby Calvisano)
downward-facing red arrow Italy Mickey Wilson (released - joined Italy Rovigo)		 upward-facing green arrow New Zealand Tyson Keats (from New Zealand Hurricanes)
FH downward-facing red arrow Italy Riccardo Bocchino (released - joined Italy Cavalieri Prato)
downward-facing red arrow New Zealand James Marshall (released - joined New Zealand Tasman)		 upward-facing green arrow Italy Luciano Orquera (from France Brive)
upward-facing green arrow South Africa Naas Oliver (from South Africa Cheetahs)
CE downward-facing red arrow South Africa Dylan des Fountain (joined South Africa Lions)
downward-facing red arrow Argentina Horacio San Martin (released - France Périgueux)		 upward-facing green arrow Italy Andrea Masi (from France Racing-Métro)
WG downward-facing red arrow South Africa Danwel Demas (joined South Africa Boland)
downward-facing red arrow France Julien Laharrague (released - joined France Lourdes)
downward-facing red arrow Italy Giulio Rubini (released - joined Italy Crociati)		 upward-facing green arrow Samoa Sinoti Sinoti (from New Zealand Hawkes Bay)
FB upward-facing green arrow Italy Ruggero Trevisan (from Italy Crociati Parma Rugby FC)
Coach

Aironi again struggled in the Pro12 league and finished last. However they did record four victories, including a notable home win over defending champions Munster[36] and eventual Heineken Cup Semi-finalists Edinburgh.[37][38] In a very tough Heineken Cup group they failed to record any win, or even a losing bonus point. In March Aironi announced they were in financial difficulty. The FIR decided to withdraw their licence for the upcoming season, the death knell for Aironi.

Viadana, the primary club behind Aironi applied to take the vacant place in the Pro12 but this was rejected by the FIR.[39] In June 2012 it was announced that the new franchise would be known as Zebre, which would be based in Parma and be built around Italian players.[40]

Pro12 Table
Club Played Won Drawn Lost Points For Points Against Points Difference Tries For Tries Against Try Bonus Losing Bonus Points
1Ireland Leinster (F) 221813568326+24248285281
2Wales Ospreys (C) 221615491337+15444222371
3Ireland Munster (SF) 221417489367+12245275467
4Scotland Glasgow Warriors (SF) 221345445321+12434232365
5Wales Scarlets 221228446373+7343305562
6Ireland Ulster2212010474424+5053415356
7Wales Cardiff Blues 2210012446460−1443455550
8Ireland Connacht227114321433−11227360737
9Wales Newport Gwent Dragons227114370474−10427411536
10Italy Benetton Treviso227015419558−13941573536
11Scotland Edinburgh226115454588−13442652432
12Italy Aironi 224018289551−26222541522

If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:[41]

  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 (rows 1 to 4) are play-off places. Qualification for the Heineken Cup is based on each country's allocation, i.e. three highest-ranked Irish teams, three highest-ranked Welsh teams, both Italian teams and both Scottish teams. Because Leinster won the 2012 Heineken Cup Final, Ireland earned an extra Heineken Cup place, which will go to Connacht. Aironi were denied a licence for the 2012–13 season due to financial issues; the newly established Zebre side replaced Aironi in the Pro12 and Heineken Cup.

Updated 5 May 2012. Source: RaboDirect PRO12

    Squad 2011–12 - Final Season

    [42] Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.

    Player Position Union
    Tommaso D'Apice Hooker Italy Italy
    Antonio Denti Hooker Italy Italy
    Davide Giazzon** Hooker Italy Italy
    Fabio Ongaro Hooker Italy Italy
    Roberto Santamaria Hooker Italy Italy
    Matías Agüero Prop Italy Italy
    Alberto de Marchi Prop Italy Italy
    Andrea de Marchi Prop Italy Italy
    Salvatore Perugini Prop Italy Italy
    Luca Redolfini Prop Italy Italy
    Lorenzo Romano Prop Italy Italy
    Fabio Staibano Prop Italy Italy
    George Biagi Lock Italy Italy
    Marco Bortolami Lock Italy Italy
    Filippo Cazzola** Lock Italy Italy
    Carlo Del Fava Lock Italy Italy
    Joshua Furno Lock Italy Italy
    Quintin Geldenhuys (c) Lock Italy Italy
    Andrea Benatti Flanker Italy Italy
    Mauro Bergamasco Flanker Italy Italy
    Nicola Cattina Flanker Italy Italy
    Simone Favaro Flanker Italy Italy
    Filippo Ferrarini Flanker Italy Italy
    Frans Viljoen Flanker South Africa South Africa
    Josh Sole Number 8 Italy Italy
    Nick Williams Number 8 New Zealand New Zealand
    Player Position Union
    Giorgio Bronzini Scrum-half Italy Italy
    Tyson Keats Scrum-half New Zealand New Zealand
    Tito Tebaldi Scrum-half Italy Italy
    Naas Olivier Fly-half South Africa South Africa
    Luciano Orquera Fly-half Italy Italy
    Alberto Benettin Centre Italy Italy
    Gilberto Pavan Centre Italy Italy
    Gabriel Pizarro Centre Italy Italy
    Matteo Pratichetti Centre Italy Italy
    Roberto Quartaroli Centre Italy Italy
    Riccardo Pavan** Wing Italy Italy
    Kaine Robertson Wing Italy Italy
    Sinoti Sinoti Wing Samoa Samoa
    Giulio Toniolatti Wing Italy Italy
    Giovanbattista Venditti Wing Italy Italy
    Paolo Buso Fullback Italy Italy
    Andrea Masi Fullback Italy Italy
    Ruggero Trevisan Fullback Italy Italy

    **World Cup Cover

    Transfers

    Players Out 2012–2013

    References

    1. ↑ Roberts, Gareth (29 April 2010). "BBC Sport - Rugby Union - Italy beckons for defence coach Rowland Phillips". BBC News. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
    2. ↑ "Rugby Union Tournaments | RaboDirect PRO12". Planet Rugby. Archived from the original on 10 September 2012. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
    3. ↑ "Italian side Aironi to pull out of Pro12 after their licence is revoked". BBC Sport. 6 April 2012.
    4. ↑ "Zebre will replace Aironi for Italy". RTÉ News. 7 June 2012.
    5. ↑ "European Club Rugby : Aironi Rugby unveil new jerseys". www.ercrugby.com. Archived from the original on 29 July 2010.
    6. ↑ "Adidas kit out 'All Black' Aironi". Ruggavibe.com. 22 July 2010. Archived from the original on 24 July 2012. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
    7. ↑ "Rugby Union News, Live Rugby Scores, Results & Fixtures". Planet Rugby. Archived from the original on 26 September 2011. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
    8. ↑ "Super 10 - E alla fine fu GranDucato Parma Rugby - Rugby 1823". Rugby1823.blogosfere.it. Archived from the original on 8 March 2012. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
    9. ↑ "Rugby Parma-Noceto, la storia infinita". Sport Parma. 12 June 2010. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
    10. ↑ "La Fusione tra Rugby Parma e Noceto: sintomo di un'epoca". Guide.supereva.it. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
    11. ↑ Peter Bills (2 February 2010). "Italian fury at 'insult' after Magners League snub - Magners League, Rugby". Independent.ie. Independent News and Media. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
    12. ↑ "Italian teams to join Magners League". RTÉ Sport. 8 March 2010. Archived from the original on 13 April 2010. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
    13. ↑ Roberts, Gareth (21 March 2009). "Wales 15-17 Ireland". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
    14. ↑ "Aironi, Praetorians gets Italian pick". Rugby365. 18 July 2009. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
    15. ↑ "Aironi and Praetorians set for Magners League". Scrum.com. ESPN. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
    16. ↑ "Italy Rugby Union News". Planet Rugby. 21 July 2009. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
    17. ↑ "Italians' bid to join league not a done deal". The Irish Times. 3 November 2009. Archived from the original on 18 October 2012. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
    18. ↑ "RTÉ Sport: Phillips named new Aironi coach". Rte.ie. 8 November 2010. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
    19. ↑ "RaboDirectPRO12 : Match Centre : Competition Table". Magnersleague.com. 15 August 2011. Archived from the original on 16 October 2010. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
    20. ↑ + dateCreated + (11 December 2010). "Rugby Union News | Match Report | Aironi Rugby v Biarritz - 11th December 2010". Sky Sports. Archived from the original on 23 October 2012. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
    21. ↑ "RaboDirectPRO12 : Match Centre : Fixtures & Results : Fixtures List". Magnersleague.com. 3 March 2009. Archived from the original on 18 September 2009. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
    22. ↑ "Northlondon-today.co.uk".
    23. ↑ "Libero Sport". Archived from the original on 23 September 2017. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
    24. ↑ "Planet Rugby | Rugby Union News, Live Rugby Scores, Results & Fixtures | Perugini next to return to Italy". www.planetrugby.com. Archived from the original on 24 April 2010.
    25. ↑ "Aironi Rugby, si prospettano altri due innesti". 9 June 2010.
    26. ↑ "Yahoo Sport- Il Sito Dove Seguire i Grandi Eventi di Sport".
    27. ↑ http://www.sportparma.com/rugby_sport_parma/5785-Confermato-Nick-Williams-degli-Aironi.html%5B%5D
    28. ↑ "Il rugbymercato delle celtiche" [The Celtic rugby market]. rugbylist.it (in Italian). 6 May 2010.
    29. ↑ "Aironi Rugby, ingaggiato Ludovic Mercier | Rugby CS". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
    30. ↑ "Rugbymercato - E' ufficiale: Pizarro vola dagli Aironi". Archived from the original on 6 August 2014. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
    31. ↑ "L'Apertura romana vola via". Archived from the original on 25 December 2011. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
    32. ↑ "Planet Rugby | Rugby Union Tournaments | Magners League | Demas heads for Italy". www.planetrugby.com. Archived from the original on 5 June 2010.
    33. ↑ "Rugby, colpo degli Aironi". 7 June 2010.
    34. ↑ "Gli Aironi ingaggiano l'estremo francese Julien Laharrague". 10 June 2010.
    35. ↑ "Robertson e mondiali vari | Rugby CS". Archived from the original on 19 October 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
    36. ↑ "Planet Rugby | Tournaments | Magners League | Aironi | Aironi claim scalp of Munster". www.planetrugby.com. Archived from the original on 9 May 2012.
    37. ↑ "Planet Rugby | Tournaments | Magners League | Aironi | Aironi edge past Edinburgh". www.planetrugby.com. Archived from the original on 9 May 2012.
    38. ↑ "Rugby Live Centre". www.planetrugby.com. Archived from the original on 6 June 2013.
    39. ↑ "Planet Rugby | Tournaments | Magners League | Aironi | Viadana's Pro12 bid rejected". www.planetrugby.com. Archived from the original on 4 June 2012.
    40. ↑ "Rugby News Archives". www.planetrugby.com. Archived from the original on 9 November 2013.
    41. ↑ Competition Rule 3.5 "Summary of Key Rules". Pro12. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
    42. ↑ "Rugby - Team details Aironi - Squad". Itsrugby.co.uk. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
    43. ↑ "Planet Rugby | Tournaments | Magners League | Aironi | del Fava off to Newcastle". www.planetrugby.com. Archived from the original on 4 June 2012.
    44. ↑ "Planet Rugby | Rugby Union Tournaments | Aviva Premiership | Romano signs for Saracens". www.planetrugby.com. Archived from the original on 10 June 2012.
    45. ↑ "Planet Rugby | Tournaments | Magners League | Aironi | Italy prop off to Wasps". www.planetrugby.com. Archived from the original on 4 June 2012.
    46. ↑ "BBC Sport - George Biagi 'impressed' by Bristol set-up". Archived from the original on 23 June 2012. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
    47. ↑ "Biagi signs as 14 leave Bristol". BBC Sport.
    48. ↑ "Narbonne. Neveu (Pilier droit) et Furno (2e ligne) rejoignent le club".
    49. ↑ "Planet Rugby | Rugby Union News, Live Rugby Scores, Results & Fixtures | Zebras name their squad for PRO12". www.planetrugby.com. Archived from the original on 4 January 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
    50. ↑ "D'Apice completes Gloucester move". BBC Sport.
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