In what must be a contender for Italy’s busiest weekend yet of rugby league, FIRL hosted three separate events in Piacenza, a week before the national team sets off for Belgrade for their eagerly anticipated European Shield opener. Paul Broadbent ran a training camp, the Serie A season was launched and the first ever coaching course run by Italian educators qualified 6 new local trainers. The visit was an integral part of the RLEF's Governance Foundation Project.

“The training camp went very well with 44 players taking part on the Saturday,” said former Great Britain prop Broadbent, who was been involved with FIRL since November 2010, working closely with the association to re-organise the domestic operations.  “The standards are improving and the players are making good progress. Although the learning curve is very steep the enthusiasm of the players and staff is very good with a really positive attitude we have now got a number of guys all coming together from the camps. The structured approach has increased the interest in rugby league and we can see a really exciting future for rugby in Italy with lots of new interest from various people and players.”

While Broadbent was running his eye over the picked squad Martin Crick, the RLEF’s Coaching Manager, was overseeing the third and final phase of the Italy’s part in the Technical Strategy. Tiziano Franchini and Kelly Rolleston ran the course while Italy became the first country to complete the Technical Strategy, having participated in three phases of coaching and two of match officials.

“The FIRL made significant strides last weekend, running its first Level 1 Coaching Course,” said Crick, who has led on the coaching element of the Technical Strategy since its conception in early 2010. “There has been a measurable improvement over the last 12-months, testament to the hard work of Tiziano Franchini and Kelly Rolleston in spreading the game. When Italy play Germany on 7 July they will also field an under-18 side for the first time; again, testament to the growing enthusiasm for the sport in Italy. I was impressed by the new coaches’ enthusiasm and desire to learn, and by their contribution to the weekend. These coaches can now assist Kelly and Tiziano to further develop the game, with the introduction of a schools programme high on their agenda.”

North West Italy Development Manager Kelly Rolleston was delighted with the course: “The coaching course was a great success.  It’s great to see rugby league spreading in Italy and more people getting involved in the coaching and match official areas.  This will give us a solid base to work from in the future and help us to develop our domestic competition.  On a personal note it has been great to take the next step from coach to tutor and I look forward to continue developing with the help and collaboration of the RLEF.”

His views were echoed by some of the new local coaches. Parma RL’s Edoardo Rossi said: “The course was well run and very professional. I am new to the sport of rugby league but I now feel confident that I can go and train my team giving them the necessary technical and tactical knowledge.

His counterpart in the north-west division of the Italian championship, XIII del Duomo’s Alessandro Cuomo, who started playing rugby league in 2010, was equally enthused: “I really enjoyed the course...it gave me the skills I need to be able to go and coach, added to my experience as a player.  I hope to be able to help people get to know this great game in the greater Milan area.

The weekend also saw two matches in the 2012 Serie A championship, both in the north west division. Due to the short preparation time before the Shield XIII de Duomo from Milan played twice, against the champions, XIII del DUCATO, losing 36-6, and succumbing to Parma RL 30-28.

Pictured: RLEF Coach Manager Martin Crick oversees FIRL's first coaching course.