MESSINA – There will be three days in which competition and rugby will not be the only protagonists of the second international tournament. The event organized by Old Rugby Messina 1980 was presented this morning at Palazzo Zanca and the speakers pushed hard on the fact that it will be a party and a showcase for Messina. The Sicilian and Calabrian teams are also joined by guests from outside the border: Brecon Rfc from Wales and Topsham Rugby Old Boys from England.
From Sicily there will be Syrako Rugby Siracusa, PalermOld Rugby, Unione Rugby Enna, Cus Catania Old Rugby, from Cosenza the Mastini Rugby Club Old and the twinned team Kiev Rugby Union was invited but will not be present. The event involves the holding of a tournament over three days in the spirit and tradition of rugby, the old version, with in addition visits to the city, convivial meetings and musical entertainment.
“Rugby educational sport”
“As a former rugby player – explained thecouncilor Caruso who did the honors by bringing the institutional greetings of the mayor Federico Basile and his colleague Massimo Finocchiaro – I like to underline the great educational component of this sport, where we help each other with a great sense of sportsmanship, also highlighted by the final greeting ( the third half, ed.) to the losing team. Respect for the opponent is combined with the spirit of loyalty, sacrifice and courage. The presence of European and Sicilian teams will allow Messina to show its face as an increasingly welcoming and hospitable city.”
The vice-president of Old Rugby Vincenzo Ciraolo declared: “The event is organized by assigning a tourist vocation to the event. In the next few days, thanks to the administration, appointments are scheduled at the museum and at Fort San Salvatore. Compared to other sports, we like to remember that rugby cultivates values of loyalty, courage, sacrifice and respect for the opponent. We are committed to spreading this sport in schools, not to thicken our ranks, but to train the new generations.”
Francesco Agati, member of the board: “In the three days of the program, a tour of the city is scheduled for tomorrow, giving space to the Messina nature: we will see the Cathedral, we will go to Ganzirri and we will swim in Torre Faro. The tournament will be played on Saturday with the third half starting at 8pm.”
The program of the Old Rugby Messina Tournament
Friday 7 June
9.00 am Transfer from the hotel (Oasi Azzurra – San Saba) to Forte San Salvatore – San Raineri
11.30 am Visit to Piazza Duomo and the Cathedral
12.00 Duomo bell tower and activation of the mechanism. Free lunch
2.30 pm Visit to the Regional Museum of Messina
4.30pm Ganzirri lakes and Torre Faro with a dive into the waters of the Strait
8.30pm Transfer to the Club House and welcome dinner with musical entertainment
00.00 Return to the hotel (Oasi Azzurra – San Saba)
Saturday 8 June
Free morning
12.00 Transfer from the hotel (Oasi Village – San Saba) to the Stadium ( Sperone)
2.00 pm Tournament
7.30pm Third time at the Club house and dinner with musical entertainment
01.00 Return to the hotel (Oasi Azzurra – San Saba)
Sunday 9 June
Day off
8.00 pm Dinner in the hotel (Oasi Azzurra – San Saba) with musical entertainment.
The rules of Old Rugby
Fifteen-on-fifteen matches will be played with a period on the field of less than the usual 40 minutes per half. There will obviously be limits regarding tackles depending on the age of the participants. To correctly apply the tackling rules, players will have to wear white trousers until they are 60; from 60 and up the shorts will be red and the player cannot be tackled but stopped by hugging him; from 65 to 70 years old the player will wear gold shorts and can be stopped by an opponent who stands in front of him with open arms without touching him; finally, for those who play over 70, the shorts will be purple and cannot be hindered in any way.
