Our friends at the Italian website, Ladies Rugby Club, obtained an interview with Marzio Innocenti, as he hopes to secure a second term of office as President of the FIR.
(https://ladiesrugbyclub.blogspot.com/2024/08/elezioni-federali-e-sviluppo-del-rugby_27.html)
This is a summary of the conversation.
Women’s rugby in Italy has leapt forward in recent years, but huge problems remain.
The first question turned naturally on the future of women’s rugby in the country, but Innocenti previewed his replies by saying the first approach must be to see Italian rugby as a whole.
But he is intent on advertising the qualities of the game to girls and young women. This is an ongoing difficulty in Italy: there is an inbuilt reluctance (not least from parents) to embrace the game that has to be overcome first.
Second: how to improve the structures of junior and senior women’s rugby? Innocenti says initiatives have been put in place at regional level to encourage girls to take up the game. The FIR has a Confrerence Cup and an Italian Cup, to allow as many players as possible to find their feet at an appropriate level.
As with other nations, Italy doesn’t have the resources required to support these initiatives at the level the President would like. But the FIR is developing U18 and U20 squads with the aim of improving pathways to the elite level.
A link-up with Spanish rugby was introduced this year on a modest scale (two franchises each), rather in line with the Celtic Challenge. World Rugby participated in its organisation, and was so pleased with its first showing that it wants to repeat it on a broader scale, with more teams competing.
Franchises look like the sensible route forward. There needs to be an earnest search for sponsorship to help support all these moves.
The FIR is working with the Ministry of Education and Merit to find ways of attracting young and very young people into the game.
When asked about improving standards at the elite level (that is Serie A), Innocenti could only speak of intentions, plans and hopes, rather than strategies already put carried out. This is a timely reminder of the massive problems involved in maintaining an elite league at a respectable level. Clubs have folded in recent years, and others have survived despite inadequate playing numbers.
Innocenti wants to see every club better supported, with better and more regular training facilities, and with a higher standard of coaching and other support mechanisms.
His aims at international level are self-evident. He is full of praise for the achievements of the Azzurre.
They will appear in WXV2 for the second year running. But he wants to see a larger elite group, ready to perform well in international competition (6N, WXV and next year’s RWC). That brings us back to sponsorship; these aims cost money.
Sevens is an excellent way of introducing the sport to a wider public, but patience will be needed before it can be given the prominence it deserves.
On the topic of coaching, Innocenti spoke once more of intentions rather than policies already in hand. There was no doubting the need for big efforts in this area.
He concluded with a comment on marketing: much has been achieved in women’s rugby around the world in recent times. The FIR is finding it harder than other unions to exploit this potentially fertile field, and the President admits it’s a tough assignment for his staff dedicated to this specific task.
My comment:
Innocenti strikes me (from a great distance) as the right man for the job. He appears outgoing, well versed in rugby matters (as a former international player himself; 42 caps, 20 as captain), and anxious to advance the cause of women’s rugby.
My suspicion is that he is finding solutions to known problems harder to find than he thought before taking office.
He has been in power at the FIR since 13 March 2021, but now faces re-election.
