Bitonto rugby is looking for a home. And in the meantime he tries to train the youth sector – BitontoLive.it

AAA looking for a home for Bitonto rugby.

Oval ball is certainly to be considered a minor sport compared to, for example, the famous football or the emerging tennis, which has been exciting many young people in recent times, thanks to the brilliant results brought home by a phenomenon called Jannik Sinner. And this is proof of how little is needed to make a sport popular: it could be the common denominator for the national rugby team if it were to win the “Six Nations” tomorrow, the most coveted and prestigious tournament.

However, rugby is also practiced in our city thanks to the commitment of Amateur Rugby Bitonto. Until the sports season which ended in April, the Neroverdi trained at the Rossiello sports center and played their home games at the Green Village in Modugno, a private facility which, however, immediately after the end of the championship, had already granted the field to other activities, effectively excluding rugby players who now find themselves without a home for matches. And training sessions – which will resume at the end of August – are also at great risk considering the fact that the Rossiello sports centre it will be affected by the works for the reconstruction of the athletics track and will therefore be out of use.

A significant headache, not only for the rugby team but for all sports associations. Amatori, however, immediately thought of a solution to address the problem: ask the Municipality for permission to use the sports field located in Mariotto, a public facility that has been off the sporting radar for about twenty years due to unusability. An inspection was also carried out and a technician estimated the total amount for the renovation works is approximately 250 thousand euros: renovation of the vandalized changing rooms, connection to the aqueduct and safety measures. Where to find the funds? The regional rugby federation – following various internal vicissitudes – has just been placed under commissionership and is still waiting for a specific tender to be issued by the national federation for the adaptation of the sports facilities while the Municipality of Bitonto should draw from some regional tender or state, which however are not currently available. So for the moment nothing can be done on both fronts.

To overcome the problem, Amatori Rugby is thinking of a back-up solution. Already this year it has established a fruitful collaboration with Tigers Rugby Baria team from the capital which was promoted to Serie B in the football season just ended, and the trait d’union it could also continue next season, which would see the neroverdi move to Bari to play their home games. But the long-term project doesn’t end there. The Amatori is in fact planning an open day at the redeveloped municipal pitch of Palombaio with the aim of making younger people aware of what playing rugby means, helping them discover its values ​​and principles. This is where the idea of create the youth sector step by step who, in the company’s plans, could easily train at the Mariotto sports field, also considering the fact that many boys who regularly play rugby come from the hamlets.

The future is still to be deciphered but the ideas are there. And they also seem very clear.