Kenya v Italy March 21

[CQ Italia]

The wait for the first official fixture in 2014 for the Italian Azzurri is already approaching, the Azzurri will fly to Watamu (in Kenya) to challenge a representative team of the African country on March 21.


Kenya, has become more and more confident over recent years in rugby union, growing today to over 30,000 participants within their federation (compared to 77 thousand of the Italian rugby union movement). Their technical level s have expressed at a higher level especially in rugby 7’s and are trying to reac greater levels in rugby union due to the upcoming participation of their national selection in the Vodacom Cup in 2014, but that does not leave anything to chance even for Rugby League.


So what better time, then now, with the FIRFL Azzurri already engaged with important internal social activities in the African country? The International meeting will be held in Watamu, where the Federal Association is chaired by David Massitti and have set up the project "Kenya Charity Camp Firfl". The Federeleague, in fact, in recent months sent some federal trainers to Kenya, especially in orphanages based in Watamu and Malindi.


The purpose of the FIRFL technical staff is not just to simply to teach and instill the values ​​of rugby league with children in Africa, but also to help a country that , beyond the reality of the orphanages , is definitely in need of some fortune.


The International match on March 21 falls in their direction, with Italian athletes who, during their period of stay in Kenya, will become available through their expertise with volunteer work such as maintenance of their hospitals and other structure. In short, rugby league, to be precise is in the foreground, but with more focus aimed at the social mission that the Italian national members will be ambassadors for.

The FIRFL will begin its first major event soon with the first "step " of the official 2014 season being held on 15 and 16 March in Avezzano , where the Italian Cup (Coppa Italia) Finals will be played.

 

[IowaRL]

So what happens if Kenya want rlif recognition? Do they dump firfl links to get it, or do they forgo getting it to keep support from firfl?

 

[deal.with.it]

Well Jamaica has full RLIF and RLEF membership, but isn't stopping them from playing the USARL next month.

 

[CQ Italia]

So what happens if Kenya want rlif recognition? Do they dump firfl links to get it, or do they forgo getting it to keep support from firfl?

Up to Kenya, would only be guessing without asking. But I'm sure if they met the criteria they would be recognised.

 

[CQ Italia]

Well Jamaica has full RLIF and RLEF membership, but isn't stopping them from playing the USARL next month.

Asked Tas why FIRFL are given press releases against them, but not any other "rebel" body. Basically, AMNRL isn't under membership, only possess an outdated letter recognising they will manage American RL and obey by RLIF laws.

I invited USARL for a match very recently, with FIRFL potentially traveling to USA and I was told to go through RLEF, despite USARL having no recognition and effectively being "rebels" like FIRFL. So basically declined, as USARL are going for FULL RLIF membership, so fair enough. Just trying to make sense how FIRFL is not in the best interests due to the ongoing issues, but the two American bodies are despite years of disagreement also??? response quote from RLEF "[FONT=&quot] Please be aware that the USARL is committed to operating within rugby league’s authorised framework, and consequently there is no desire on the USARL’s part to cooperate with any teams that have chosen to operate outside that framework and which unfortunately show little intention of joining the RL community at large."

** note any USARL people, I'm a fan of what you are doing.
[/FONT]

 

[CQ Italia]

The Fourth Coppa Italia Rugby League at Avezzano!

It’s arrived, the moment to award the first trophy of the Italian Rugby League season. The Federazione Italiana Rugby Football League (FIRFL) officially opens the curtain on their 2014 season on Saturday at Avezzano at Avezzano stadium where there will be great celebration of rugby, which will see the 4th Coppa Italia won. The program will begin with the event presentation at 11.30am right at the stadium in the Abruzzo based town, then a tasty lunch between all participants and guests, will watch the Six Nations Rugby Union match between Italy and England followed by the start and winner of the Triangular Coppa Italia Finals.

A contender for the trophy will be the Roman team, the Usag Lazio who last year raised the trophy to the sky at Nicolosi (Catania). In addition to the ‘capitolini’ there will be another "old acquaintance" of the FIRFL, namely the Spartans Sicilia, while the absolute novelty is represented by the presence of the new Tuscan formation of Becker League of Pieve a Nievole (a village nearby Montecatini Terme). Talking about this "new entry" is the Federation's Sport Director Beppe Moncada. "We are very excited about this new affiliation and evidently this is the signal that the movement is growing at a national level in general and in particular in Tuscany. Evidently this new club was encouraged and driven by the work of Magnifici Firenze (a foundation club that participates in the r-Evolution League) and thus we decided to form this group, composed of a team with a very low average age, which will exclusively play only rugby league. For six months, we have been training for the Italian Cup and the idea is to create a youthful setup that would give continuity to the project.”
The organizational chart of Becker League sees Walter Nadio Mazzucco as president, his vice-president is Rossella Impallazzo, the secretary is Marco Capaccioli and Samuel Arlandini and Giordano Guerrieri are committee members.

A week after the national Coppa Italia Finals event in Italy, the FIRFL celebrates a great international event on March 21 in Watamu (in Kenya), the national rugby league team will challenge the African country’s representatives in their first engagement of 2014. A match that will also have a strong social significance with the Azzurri athletes who, during the period of their stay in Kenya, will be protagonists of volunteer works such as the maintenance of some city orphanages.

 

[Bronco Rob]

Asked Tas why FIRFL are given press releases against them, but not any other "rebel" body. Basically, AMNRL isn't under membership, only possess an outdated letter recognising they will manage American RL and obey by RLIF laws.

I invited USARL for a match very recently, with FIRFL potentially traveling to USA and I was told to go through RLEF, despite USARL having no recognition and effectively being "rebels" like FIRFL. So basically declined, as USARL are going for FULL RLIF membership, so fair enough. Just trying to make sense how FIRFL is not in the best interests due to the ongoing issues, but the two American bodies are despite years of disagreement also??? response quote from RLEF "[FONT=&quot] Please be aware that the USARL is committed to operating within rugby league?s authorised framework, and consequently there is no desire on the USARL?s part to cooperate with any teams that have chosen to operate outside that framework and which unfortunately show little intention of joining the RL community at large."[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]** note any USARL people, I'm a fan of what you are doing.[/FONT]

I deadset reckon there's some conflict of interest in the RLEF in relation to the Italian situation. How can anyone keep ignoring what the FIRFL are doing for the game of Rugby League and labelling what they are doing as outside of the Rugby League framework? The game has so much to gain if there was one Rugby League body in Italy and the RLEF/RLIF should be mediating between the 2 bodies and trying to facilitate one governing body rather than just giving the FIRFL an ultimatum of they simply have to join the FIRL. Obviously the FIRFL have issues of governance with the FIRL and how they conduct their affairs and this needs to be addressed.

 

[deal.with.it]

The FIRL have tiziano who is a lawyer, speaks spanish, italian and english, and can train coaches and referees.
Really think the RLEF are gonna throw away an asset like that?

 

[CQ Italia]

The FIRL have tiziano who is a lawyer, speaks spanish, italian and english, and can train coaches and referees.
Really think the RLEF are gonna throw away an asset like that?

A change of management at the top wouldn't mean people are left out of RL altogether... at least that is the logical thinking

One FIRFL member can speak all 3 languages also (at least I've physically seen him speak a bit of spanish) represented his country in 3 codes of rugby (Italia A RU, RL for both federations and Italian 7s)... Physically works in sports management.
another member is a highly regarded sports doctor that speaks Italian and English (would have to ask about the Spanish) that has won many championships or runners-ups in italian sport and has his own business.
So it's not like there isn't well credentialed people on FIRFL either.

 

[CQ Italia]

I deadset reckon there's some conflict of interest in the RLEF in relation to the Italian situation. How can anyone keep ignoring what the FIRFL are doing for the game of Rugby League and labelling what they are doing as outside of the Rugby League framework? The game has so much to gain if there was one Rugby League body in Italy and the RLEF/RLIF should be mediating between the 2 bodies and trying to facilitate one governing body rather than just giving the FIRFL an ultimatum of they simply have to join the FIRL. Obviously the FIRFL have issues of governance with the FIRL and how they conduct their affairs and this needs to be addressed.

It's double standards, USARL rejected the AMNRL (who the RLIF has said are following RLIF advice and laws), but that's different??
But it would be preferable if it is sorted within this year as it's just went on too long. BUT of course there are obviously still big differences to sort out
RLEF were meant to be the mediator of the situation from start to finish

 

[CQ Italia]

USAG are Italian Cup winners and Azzurri team named for Kenya
The Federazione Italiana Rugby Football League (FIRFL) have reached days of fire as the Coppa Italia came to a climax with the Triangular Finals played on Saturday and the Azzurri will soon depart for Kenya.

Last Saturday, the first trophy of the 2014 season was awarded to USAG Lazio at stadio Avezzano with the capital team having the better of Spartans Sicilia and the Becker League di Piece a Nievole (in Tuscany), newly affiliated to the FIRFL.

“We are happy to have won the title a beautiful day (again) from last year – says Riccardo Marini, coach of USAG Lazio – and we are content to have lived a beautiful day teaching rugby league in the beatufiul setting of Avezzano.”

The Roman team captained by Brizi in their first battle had beaten Spartans 22-6 then, after the Sicilians team success over Becker League 32-8, the Romans had the best of the Tuscans winning 30-4.

“The first match was equally balanced, with a break between us and the Spartans – Marini continues to recount - then together started our work and we played our match. The game with Becker, began with an opposition try before our comeback. We are happy with the success and performance of some new elements within our group. Honour, however, goes to both the Sicilians and Tuscans for the competitiveness they demonstrated in this event.”

Thus, closes the beautiful Coppa Italia edition, now another important event for the FIRFL will soon open: Wednesday the Italian National Rugby League depart for Kenya to play the international test match against the African selection on Friday at Watamu.

"It will be a beautiful experience – says Marini, who will be part of the Azzurri stadd in Africa – not only for sport, but also social endeavours because we'll visit the Watamu orphanages. With regard to the technical aspect, we are convinced we can make a good figure." The following is the Azzurri Squad: Concetto D’Aquila, Camel El Gassaoue, Federico Re, Alfio Finocchiaro, Attilio Bonnici, Gabrio Maionchi, Matteo Fiaschi, Gianluca Genua, Simone Bianco, Alessandro Ippoliti, Cristiano Lavini, Carlo Donadio, Matteo Lombardi, Giacomo Franzoni, Fabrizio Massafra, David Zonta and Riccardo Staccone.


relevant photos at https://www.facebook.com/ItaliaRugbyFootballLeague

 

[Springs]

On facebook this game was said to have attracted a crowd of over 5,000.

 

[CQ Italia]

only short information available:

Amazing support in Kenya as nearly 5000 attend a Rugby League International

Last Friday, in Watamu Kenya, an Azzurri Development (FIRFL) team battled Kenya with the African debutants making a great debut showing their physicality and speed earning a home victory (34-24) in front of about 5000 enthusiastic (including over 2000 children) and warm spectators. Kenya won with merit on the field, but it was once again the sport, in particular rugby league, triumphed over distances and difficulties of every day life

 

[Ari Gold]

Amazing. Nothing else needs to be said

 

[Evil Homer]

[youtube]_6etMn1KLkY[/youtube]

Unbelievable.

 

[miguel de cervantes]

I wonder what the IRB will have to say about this.

 

[Evil Homer]

I wonder what the IRB will have to say about this.

Why would they have anything at all to say about it? :?

 

[miguel de cervantes]

Well maybe not the IRB, but the local union perhaps.

 

[Bronco Rob]

Thanks for the youtube clip EH, I had goosebumps watching it!

 

[CQ Italia]

[youtube]_6etMn1KLkY[/youtube]

Unbelievable.

thanks mate, great find! (i'll send it through to the guys!)

very impressed with their skill... I have seen a top Kenyan 7s team play in Italy when I was there, but I think they could well be more suited to league! These same connections I assume could be involved in the new Kenyan RL, pretty impressed by the support as the Malindi (city) and Watamu (town) are relatively small it seems.

Not taking away anything because seeing that makes me proud. The firfl italia team is basically an "Italia A team" with players selected from the 3 Coppa Italia teams and not the 9 revolution league clubs, then work / rugby committments get in the way for some that are paid, but its good to give experience to more considering there are limited opportunities to play at a higher level until there is Italian unity. Just thought I would explain