Postcard from Parma: Italian job a joy, even if the locals have concerns over the future

Published on Saturday 21 February 2009 18:46

Nick Mallett: Coach has concerns over the depth of quality available in Italian rugby

BUONGIORNO FROM Parma, a city that many of you will have heard of but perhaps few will have visited. With a population of 170,000, the city is famous throughout Italy for its food, art and culture. For most rugby players, art and culture are not high on their agendas, although food certainly is and I am no exception. The local delights include Parma ham, Parmesan cheese and Lambrusco wine.

After enjoying the local food and wine, a visit to the opera house is regarded as a luxurious pleasure by the inhabitants of Parma. The city is blessed by amazing architecture even surviving World War Two bombings to leave a small yet classical Italian city.

For the past two seasons I have been playing rugby for Overmach Cariparma. For many years Treviso, Viadana and Calvisano have dominated Italian club rugby but Overmach Cariparma is a team that has the structure and the ambition to break the mould. With training facilities, gymnasium, clubhouse and restaurant all being newly constructed, the club's sponsors and president are desperate to win the Italian Top Ten championship. Last season a victory in the final of the Italian cup was seen by many as the breakthrough trophy that could start the ball rolling under new coach Andrea Cavinato.

The side is constantly improving with the development of youth an important factor in the club's future. This does, however, make a 29-year-old fly half feel very old at times! Victory over Brive (including a man of the match for yours truly!) and El Salvador twice, coupled with two very close defeats against Newcastle in the European Challenge Cup are proof alone that improvements have been made at the club and perhaps in Italian rugby as well.

Evidence of this is shown with the number of Parma players who in the past two seasons have been capped by the "A" or full national side for Italy. The latest are Gilberto Pavan and Giulio Rubini, who have been drafted in for the upcoming game against Scotland in the Six Nations at Murrayfield. If Rubini plays his preferred position at full back, he will be the smallest man on the hallowed turf (at just 12 stones) but also one of the most elusive. At 21 he is not short of confidence and is a player equipped with both the ability and ambition to unlock defences, something that the Italian side under Nick Mallett have found difficult.

Scotland and Italy will be looking for their first Six Nations victory this year and no doubt the game will be touted as the wooden spoon decider. Both teams possess world-class players and committed defences, but neither have found the X-factor needed to score the tries to compete with the higher-ranking teams.

Italy's failing in the autumn Tests was an eye-opener for Mallett, who was quoted as saying that the standard of the Italian league was not high enough to produce players capable of playing international rugby. Having played for five consecutive seasons in Italy, I know improvements in the standard of play have been made every year, but it is true that the level of competition in Italy is not as high as found elsewhere in Europe.

Mallett's comments (or should I call them excuses) have led to a knee-jerk reaction to propose the inclusion of two Italian teams in the Celtic League next season. Who, where and how are all unanswerable questions at this point in time, but support for the proposal has not been well received by the clubs in Italy. With over 220 eligible players for Italy playing every weekend, the question of quantity has never been an issue. The theory is that two Italian sides playing in the Celtic league will raise the quality needed for players to develop into international players.

What many officials who live the dolce vita have failed to notice is that a large proportion of Mallett's squad earn their living in other leagues around Europe. Other issues are the legalities of player contracts and whether the Celtic League will accept existing teams or would prefer new franchises. Rumours of merging teams in northern Italy, ignoring years of rivalry and in some cases mild hatred, have caused many to splutter into their espressos!

As for me, I am happy to be playing at a club that wants me and am enjoying the lifestyle. Having spent four years at Glasgow in horizontal sleet, I certainly don't miss the training or playing but the city will always be close to my heart and its vibrancy and local humour is hard to find anywhere else in the world.

It is impossible to predict the future, but I hope mine will include an occupation in sports journalism some day. Until that time I will continue to give 100% to my club and continue to support Scotland through thick and thin. Forza Scozia!