Italy to move Six Nations games from Rome to Florence

[TRF_Cymro]

Italy's home Six Nations matches are set to be played in Florence after rugby bosses lost patience with owners of Rome's Stadio Flaminio.

The Italian rugby federation has long bemoaned a lack of improvement work on its ageing facilities.

It has now cited an "absence of a definitive and rapid resolution of the problems with the Stadio Flaminio".

Florence's Stadio Artemio Franchi hosted its first test against Australia in November.

The Azzurri caused a memorable shock when beating France at the Stadio Flaminio in March, with the party atmosphere at the decaying arena highlighted as one of the reasons behind the success.

But the Italian Rugby Federation board has now decided that home matches in the Six Nations must be transferred to the Stadio Artemio Franchi.

Federation officials were left embarrassed in 2009 when plans to play world champions South Africa in a Test in Florence were ruined by the city's football team, Fiorentina, having a game on the same day in the same stadium.

The rugby match was switched to Udine at late notice.

Italy sold out the 80,000-seater San Siro in Milan for a New Zealand Test in 2009 but because both of the city's football clubs - AC Milan and Inter Milan - use the venue almost every weekend during the season, the rugby side cannot play there in the Six Nations.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/12941136.stm​

 

[Nielsch]

Why not move it to the Olympic Stadium in Rome?

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Why not move it to the Olympic Stadium in Rome?

Presume Lazio and Roma would have a say, presume it would be hard to organize the use of the pitch for three teams?

 

[Nielsch]

Presume Lazio and Roma would have a say, presume it would be hard to organize the use of the pitch for three teams?

Good point. I didn't realize the stadium was already in use by those clubs.

 

[Jess Matthews]

It's a shame coz stadio flaminio had a great atmosphere

 

[RAWWeyman]

Florence is a great city though - will be a nice change of scenery for the boys when they play there in the 6 nations in 2012

 

[profitius]

Why not just rent out the colosseum?

 

[smartcooky]

Why not just rent out the colosseum?

Because wearing body armour and carrying swords, nets, spears and chains contravenes iRB regulations.

 

[Feicarsinn]

Do you have to have a designated home stadium for the 6N? Probably wouldn't hurt the Italians to send the team on tour to get a bit of exposure.