Tag Archives: rugby

Paris Rugby

7 Feb

Paris

This past weekend, my love and I took the fast train to Paris. A mere 2 hours and 25 minutes after a late boarding we arrived in a freezing city. 30 degrees Fahrenheit and -1 Celsius. The Parisians were bundled tighter than anyone I’ve seen in Kaiserslautern even though it was 11 degrees Celsius colder in K-town.

On game day we put first things first and headed to the pub. Even though we already had on long johns under our jeans, we still brought a bag of extra clothes to change into before heading to the Stade de France.

Paris

In the surprisingly clean bathroom I put on another long sleeve shirt under my sweater, added a thick pair of wool socks over the thin wool ones I already had on, and tied an extra scarf around my neck. In my purse I had wool gloves to wear inside cotton mittens. As soon as I worked my way out of the tiny bathroom stall I started sweating. Good sign.

Paris

We were the only Italy supporters in our whole section.  The Azzurri made a valiant start and played well the whole game.  We looked like a completely different team.  Even though we lost (30-12), I can’t wait to watch us smash England in the ground this weekend in Rome.

Dai ragazzi.

Rome: Rugby Update

9 Feb

.

Rugbysmile
Irishhat
Rugby
Stadio
Viking

See the full gallery on Posterous
The reason we went to Rome last weekend was for the Italy vs Ireland rugby game.  It was the first 6 nations game of the season and our first ever 6 nations game.  All the other games we’ve been to have been test matches.  And while in rugby that’s still kind of a big deal because they are all about the pride of winning, it wasn’t really official.

One thing I really love about rugby is how everyone is so friendly.  At football matches I feel like if I accidently wear the wrong color I’ll get beat up behind one of the sandwich trucks.  But at the rugby, we can joke and co-mingle and there is no designated away section like at the football matches. 

Peroni, an Italian beer, sponsors the Italian rugby team.  They gave out free viking hats the color of the Italian flag to everyone attending the game. We totally sported it on the way home.  I’m going to take mine to the next game, too.  You gotta represent.

Perfect day, but not a perfect game.  Italy lost 11-13 by a drop kick in the last 5 minutes of the game.  Damn lucky Irish.

Italia vs Fiji

7 Dec

Media_httpfarm5static_kydcd

Rugby is by far my favorite sport to watch.  Mostly because of those short shorts they wear and how manly they are.

I don’t know about any of you other lady readers out there but I like a manly man.  The manlier the better.  Shew, give me a moment whilst I fan myself.

Media_httpfarm5static_iexjx

If you remember I went to see Italy vs Argentina in Verona a few weeks ago.  Last weekend we went to Modena (home of balsamic vinegar) to see team Italy vs Fiji.  It was a pretty amazing match.  Fiji does a haka dance before each match similar to the All Blacks.

Media_httpfarm5static_fhfdv

We made a weekend of the match and stayed the night in Modena.  We were lucky enough to be staying in the actual same hotel as team Italy.  This monstrous fellow is Sergio Parisse, il capitano.  He makes me and my husband look like smurfs.

Media_httpfarm5static_bjlqa

This is the BARBARIAN.  Castrogiovanni.  That’s a serious last name for a serious player.  This guy was in a scrum one time and broke another person’s collar bone.  He BREAKS BONES.  He was also really nice about posing for a picture with us.

All Blacks in Milan

15 Nov

Wow. We went to a rugby test match today in Milan: Italy vs All Blacks. New Zealand is the best national rugby team in the world and it was so cool to see them play. Plus I got to see the huka dance.


This video isn’t from today’s match but one in Rome.

What a great day.