Federazione Italiana Rugby League development manager Kelly Rolleston has hailed Italy A’s tour of the Midlands as a success and a useful exercise, despite their two defeats.The squad, comprised of players from the Italian domestic competition, French leagues and a handful of UK-based aspirants, spent a full day’s training at Nottingham Trent University under the watchful eye of FIRL Technical Assistant Paul Broadbent, before facing Loughborough University and Coventry Bears.

“It was a useful experience and we will look to do something similar again in the future,” said Rolleston. “The boys have had to work hard whilst they’re here and they’ve also been shown what they need to do to step up to the next level. Its excellent preparation for the Rugby League World Cup European Qualifiers next month when we face Serbia, Russia and Lebanon.”

The game versus Loughborough University attracted a large crowd to the University campus to see the home side hold out and claim a narrow victory over the tourists. The game was close throughout, with both sides displaying different styles of Rugby League. Hamish Locke opened the scoring for the visitors after following up his own kick, with Mark Wilson adding the first of his four conversions. Italy A hit back through Christope Callegari, but Matteo Rossi missed the kick. Aiden Pritchard reached out at the line to post Loughborough’s second score but on the stroke of half time Fabrizio Ciaurro scorched in for a try out wide, with Rossi this time accurate with the boot.

After the restart, Loughborough dominated much of the early play, but tough tackling from the Italians kept them at bay. Centre Jack Powley juggled a neat pass out to the centres and managed to hold on to the ball to score on his debut. Locke, who was on superb form for the Maroons added a second try, which looked to seal the victory. However, on the back of some powerful runs, with experienced prop Christophe Borlin (pictured) doing damage in the middle, Italy A responded and Marco Ferazzano forced his way through to give the Italians hope, setting up the easy conversion for Rossi. Mistakes near their line by Loughborough invited the Azzurri to chance their arm again with Gregory Tiquet obliging, running a perfect angle off his half-back partner. Rossi was again on target, but with time running down, the students held on to claim a 24-22 win.

The second match of the tour saw the action switch to the West Midlands where Coventry Bears played host at the University of Coventry. In superb playing conditions, the Co-operative Rugby League Conference National Bears provided sterner opposition for the tourists. It took ten minutes for the deadlock to be broken, as Brad Massey crashed in to open the Bears’ scoring, Stephan Coleman adding the extras. Chad Grant made a fine burst to score just after the twenty-minute mark, with Coleman again on target with the boot. Shortly before half-time, Bears talisman and former Irish international Alan Robinson came out of retirement to burst up field, grounding the ball after ricocheting off the uprights, setting up an easy conversion for Coleman again.

Italy A reversed the one-way traffic straight after the break, with a fine move which saw Octavian Ilinca score out wide. Matteo Rossi sliced the conversion wide of the posts. The Bears hit back straight away with Grant posting his second try and he crossed minutes later round off his hat-trick, this time the kick out of reach for Coleman. Tough second row Michael Venn jinked his way through for a good solo effort before Harry Kaufman jumped out of dummy-half to extend the Bears lead. Italy A had the final word as Santiago Monteagudo broke away for a consolation try but Giacomo Simioni failed to bring the score up to double figures, the match ending 38-8.

“It has been a pleasure to host Italy in the Midlands,” said David Butler, the RFL’s Regional Manager. “As well as providing the Italians with valuable coaching and development time as a squad, it has also offered some high profile playing opportunities for two of the leading clubs in the area – both of whom have raised their profiles as a result. As a growing region for Rugby League, our participants share similar challenges to our colleagues in countries where Rugby League is in development and I am sure that there are opportunities in the future for clubs from the region to both host and visit foreign sides to make our game stronger.”