Italian Rugby Federation announced today “Zebre” (Zebras) as the new team to replace Aironi

News

56 More

Manage your selection and availability by joining. Join Website

Club News

By Gary Williams | 7th June 2012

Italian Rugby Federation announced today “Zebre” (Zebras) as the new team to replace Aironi

Zebre will be replacing Aironi in the Rabodirect Pro12 and Heineken Cup in the 2012/13 season - fancy a trip to Parma!

“Zebre” was originally founded in 1973 as invitational club for North-Western Italy. IR announced as well Zebre will be based and will play in Parma, at the “XXV Aprile” Stadium, which is currently being refurbished and expanded.

Technical staff

Director of rugby: Roberto Manghi
Technical director: Christian Gajan
Coaches: Vincenzo Troiani, Alessandro Troncon
Team Manager: Fabio Ongaro
Fitness coach: Massimo Zaghini

FIR appointed 53-year-old Roberto Manghi as Director of Rugby. Manghi, coming from Rugby Reggio in the 2011/2012 Eccellenza championship, was general manager with Gran Parma and Rugby Parma, reaching with both clubs the Eccellenza semifinals.

Christian Gajan was indicated by Italy Head Coach Jacques Brunel and appointed as technicaldirector: 53-years-old frenchman has a strong knowledge of the italian rugby having coached Benetton Treviso from 1998 to 2000 and VeneziaMestre in 2008/09 season.

Gajan also coached Stade Toulousain and Castres Olympique, winning the European Shield in 2003 with Castres. Gajan will be assisted by Vincenzo Troiani and Alessandro Troncon as coaches. Troiani reached the Eccellenza semifinals as head coach in 2005/2006 season winning the Italian Cup in the same year. He then coached Italy U18 and Italy U20 and was part of the technical staff at the U20 andU18 National Academies. Troncon, all-time most capped Italian player with 101 appearances, retired in 2007 from rugby and was then appointed as Italy backs coach, position he held until the end of the 2012 RBS 6 Nations.

Fabio Ongaro, 81 times capped as hooker for Italy, announced today his retirement from rugby and was appointed Zebre’s team manager.

Massimo Zaghini, now attending Junior World Championship 2012 in South Africa with the Italian U20 team, will be the fitness and conditioning coach after covering the same position with the U20 National Academy this year and taking part in the 2011 Italy Rugby World Cup preparation as Alex Marco’s assistant.