Italrugby, presented the challenge with Georgia in Genoa
Italrugby, presented the challenge with Georgia in Genoa
In the second fixture of the Autumn Nations Series, the Italian national rugby team challenges Georgia, a test-match scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 17 at the 'Luigi Ferraris stadium in Genoa. The technical commissioner Gonzalo Quesada, together with the federal advisor Vittorio Musso representing the Italian Rugby Federation (FIR) governance, the’councillor for Sports and Tourism of the Municipality of Genoa and the deputy vice president of CONI Silvia Salis, attended at Palazzo Tursi the press conference presenting the challenge that will see Lamaro and his teammates face the Eastern European XV in the ideal rematch of the July 2022 match, when in Batumi the Georgians won their first, historic success against Italy.
"We are proud to once again host such an important sporting event in our city. Italy-Georgia will not only be a great sporting challenge, but an opportunity to strengthen the link between Genoa and great international rugby – the words of the mayor of Genoa – This match, included in the prestigious calendar of Genoa 2024 European Capital of Sport, confirms our commitment to promote sport as a central value for the community and the tourist development of our city. We are ready to welcome fans from all over Italy and beyond, another great spectacle in this extraordinary year of sports for Genoa".
"Genoa and the National Team are about to celebrate a new chapter in a nearly 100-year bond,” said FIR Federal Councillor Vittorio Musso, “that has its roots in the first test-match played in 1935 against Catalonia. We are thrilled to be able to consider Genoa one of the strongholds of our sport and of the Azzurri jersey for the next three years thanks to the agreement signed with the City of Genoa for an autumn test-match until 2026. Georgia binds us to a recent but deeply felt sporting rivalry, such as to make the Ferraris challenge an appointment strongly perceived by our movement and capable of attracting fans and curious people to experience eighty minutes that will certainly be characterized by great agonism".
"The one with Georgia will be a great challenge, with a high symbolic value for us and for our fans – added coach Gonzalo Quesada -. It will be a key match for our team in a very demanding November window. Obviously, before Genoa, we will be in Udine against Argentina, who had a fantastic Rugby Championship overcoming Australia, Springboks and All Blacks for the first time in the same edition, and the initial focus can only be on the match against the Pumas. I have never played in Genoa, but I know the stadium 'Ferraris' and its stands so close to the field: the last direct clash against Georgia è was a defeat, so it will be wonderful this time to count on the warmth and support of the public for such an important and heartfelt match".
