They are expected 800 athletes16 clubs and 64 teams divided into the 4 categories Under 6, Under 8, Under 10 and Under 12. Important numbers for the 13th City of Modena minirugby tournament – 12th Marco Mucchi Memorialan event organized by Modena Rugby 1965 and dedicated to the memory of the former green-and-white number 5, Marco Mucchi, who passed away in 2010 at just 52 years old.
This year too there are many prestigious clubs that did not want to miss the event Plug it in. Together with the hosts Generaliviaemiliaest there will be Rugby Carpi and Highlanders Formigine Rugby, Rugby Bologna 1928, the Reggio Emilia side Valorugby Young, the Parma side Rugby Parma Young and Le Viole Amatori Parma, while the Querce Rugby teams arrive from Imola. The Lombard presence is also massive: Amatori Union & Minirugby Milano, Rugby Milano, Rugby Parco Sempione and Rugby Viadana. The presence of Gispi Rugby Prato has been confirmed, the only club present at all editions of the event, representing the Tuscan team together with Rugby Etruria Piombino and Livorno Rugby, and then there will be the Padua team of Petrarca Rugby Junior, one of the clubs and nurseries most important on the national scene.
The day at the Luciano Zanetti facility will begin at 7am with the arrival of the volunteers, ready to welcome the teams, expected from 7.30am for accreditation. The actual tournament will begin at 9.10 with the presentation to the pitch director, then from 9.30 onwards to the first phase, which will continue until midday, the start time of the third half in the refreshment area. The second phase will begin at 2pm and end at 3pm with the finals, then the grand finale with the awards at 4.30pm and see you at the next edition. On the pitch it will be a challenge to Rugby Milano, which for three editions in a row (in 2019, before the shutdown imposed by the pandemic, then in 2022 and 2023) won the most coveted award, that of Superclub, intended for the club capable of collect the best placings in all categories.
“Over time the organizational machine has improved and we have become capable of dealing with unexpected events – explains Alessandro Mazzivice-president of Modena Rugby 1965 and president of the Organizing Committee –. This year there is a reduction in attendance due to the change in the minirugby tournament calendar: in fact, several other tournaments are being played on the same day as the ‘Mucchi’ and many clubs have had to choose. Certainly, by reading the list of participating clubs, we can be sure that from a technical point of view the quality is guaranteed. Regardless of the number of people present, the aim is to make everything work in the best possible way, maintaining the typical atmosphere of this event, that ability to make the children and those accompanying them feel good, which in recent years in many they recognized. Much of the work is carried out by Federico Freddi, coordinator of the operational areas, the organization roughly reflects that of last year and the only question mark concerns the weather”. Enrico Freddi, president of Modena Rugby 1965, adds: “These events represent the soul of this sport, the development of the youth sectors is the lever to grow the rugby movement and guarantee a sustainable future for the clubs. The City of Modena Tournament is an event to which we are all very attached, but it is also our business card and we want to leave a beautiful memory in those who come to visit us for the occasion”.
