Fresh from the best Six Nations ever (the Azzurri drew with France and won against Scotland and Wales) the Italian national rugby team has arrived in L’Aquila to better prepare for the next test matches of the summer tour.
Yesterday the capital of Abruzzo, land with a long and historic oval tradition, welcomed coach Quesada’s boys with a lot of warmth and support during the training organized with open doors. At the end of the session, Captain Lamaro and his team pleasantly took photos and autographs receiving a real hug from the young enthusiasts of the Abruzzo capital.
As reported by Ansa AbruzzoGiovambattista Venditti – former Italian player and now team manager of Italrugby originally from Avezzano – was particularly enthusiastic. “L’Aquila – underlined Giamba – is always been at the center of the rugby that matters for the history that is here who define it as one of the cradles of this sport, so we from the national teams are always happy to come here.
They always welcome us well and the enthusiasm of this morning it’s essential to push the guys towards a difficult tourso the minimum is to truly pay homage to this land of rugby.
It will be a good challenge for us – he adds – we are a young group but have now tasted high-level rugby for some time but who has never done a summer tour where you have to deal with different cultures, different foods and you have to be flexible. We grow like this too.
The Six Nations saw us very well – adds Venditti – and we consider it a completion of last season’s journey. We are working with an already consolidated group within which the selectors have included young people who are hungry to play.”
The national team will move to Auckland, New Zealand, which will be the Azzurri’s base for the first part of Summer Tour.
After the first two test matches scheduled against Samoa ad Apia and against Tonga in Nuku’Alofa, on 5 and 12 July respectively, the Azzurri will fly to Japan where the last test against the hosts Japan will be held in Sapporo on Sunday 21 July.
.Simone Cortese
