The Federazione Italiana Rugby League has launched their 2013 season, headlined by an enlarged Serie A championship that incorporates geographical expansion into central Italy, three clubs there joining the four each from the north west and north east zones.

The North West group kicks off the championship this week with Milan outfit XIII del Duomo taking on near neighbours XIII del Bresà, then, on Friday, the North East group commences with Padova RL playing Arieti Este RL.

The regional stage of the championship will identify the four teams that advance to the semi-finals, which will take place on Saturday 6 July. The Serie A Grand Final will be staged a week later at Modena Rugby Stadium.

The eleven teams that will compete for the title of Italian champions are: North West Roosters, XIII del Duomo, XIII del Ducato, XIII del Bresà, Arieti Este, Padova RL, Grifons Padova, XIII della Ghirlandina, Firenze RL and Sharks Tirreno.

In addition to the men’s competition, two Women’s matches are set for 15 and 21 June in Piacenza and Monza, while the Leoni Veneti (north east) and Longobardi (north west) U18 representative teams will play on 22 and 29 June to select the side that will face Serbia U18 on 6 July in Este.

As well as launching the domestic season, FIRL presented its comprehensive representative calendar to the country’s media, which at senior level begins on the 29 June with Russia’s visit in the European Shield and ends with inaugural participation in the World Cup.

Italy Women and Italy U21 will play abroad in a tournament being organised by the Ile de France RL committee in Paris at the end of June.

Kelly Rolleston, assistant coach of the Italian national team and development manager for the North West, said at the launch, "This year the Serie A will be very competitive. FIRL is implementing a selection process which will give the opportunity to the domestic players to wear the Azzurri shirt in the European Shield with the aim to get into the Italy World Cup squad. "

He is also the coach of Piacenza’s defending champion side XIII del Ducato. " I hope we can repeat last season’s results, although I’m aware that this year will be much more difficult due to the presence of new, solid clubs and that each of those has a rugby league coach trained by FIRL. "