Get the sun block out - We're off to Italy

[Leinster Believer]

Best news all week the Italians are offically in the Magners league there will they won't they debacle.

http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/rugby/ ... 54499.html

Great for them and the league. Most importantly we've got two away trips. Of course they are going to be in May and early Sept right?

[ronk]

Best news all week the Italians are offically in the Magners league there will they won't they debacle.

http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/rugby/ ... 54499.html

Great for them and the league. Most importantly we've got two away trips. Of course they are going to be in May and early Sept right?

No idea how they'll swing it. With Ireland playing in Rome next 6N they might be tempted to get a home game as close as possible to that to see if people would make a week of it.

[aisling7]

I'm so excited

[sheepshagger]

Will just have to wait for the ML to release fixture dates just lile we have to at present.

Small enough grounds at 9.5k and 3.5k capacity (the bigger being Treviso). We had them a few years back in the HEC.

If we get them next season (in the HEC)it means people going to these new ML venues might be a stretch, in saying that Ryanair serve airports close enough to both, so hopefully that makes it a bit easier.

[Leinster Believer]

Good old sheepshager travel already looking up flights.

Any accomdation sorted yet

[Broken Wing]

I'm giddy like a schoolgirl at this news.

Small enough grounds at 9.5k and 3.5k capacity (the bigger being Treviso). We had them a few years back in the HEC.

Aironi will play out of Viadana which is a 5,000 seater. Small enough but so was Donnybrook.

[pitcher girl]

This is ever so exciting.
Certainly will inject new found interest into the Magners League.
Needing sun tan lotion will make a nice change to standing in Wales in the pissings of rain

[kermischocolate]

I'm giddy like a schoolgirl at this news.

Small enough grounds at 9.5k and 3.5k capacity (the bigger being Treviso). We had them a few years back in the HEC.

Aironi will play out of Viadana which is a 5,000 seater. Small enough but so was Donnybrook.

In fairness the size of the ground isn't everything- Edinburgh play out of Murrayfield .

The extra teams can only be good for rugby! Can't wait!

[sheepshagger]

In fairness the size of the ground isn't everything- Edinburgh play out of Murrayfield .

Was referring to the capacity as that will affect the away allocation.

[kermischocolate]

In fairness the size of the ground isn't everything- Edinburgh play out of Murrayfield .

Was referring to the capacity as that will affect the away allocation.

Aah fair enough- trouble is living in Glasgow I'm too much out of the loop , used to just turning up 10 mins before the game starts, getting my ticket and wandering in!

[Degz]

Going by the attendances they get at home HC games, surely there won't be any problem picking up a ticket over there, especially in the bigger stadium

[Broken Wing]

Hopefully that's the case Degz but also hopefully that's not the case. By that I mean I wouldn't want to miss out on a ticket but also it would be nice to see stadia packed with home fans. They'll need to be if the teams are to succeed. Maybe the amount of away fans arriving to see the games will encourage the locals to take a look.

[Broken Wing]

Roma coach Carlo Pratichetti thinks that some of Aironi or Treviso's games may be played in Rome according to Eurosport.

Not only would that increase ticket availability but it would also work towards boosting the prospect of a third team in the future. Of course it's just pie in the sky at the moment.

[Degz]

Roma coach Carlo Pratichetti thinks that some of Aironi or Treviso's games may be played in Rome according to Eurosport.

Not only would that increase ticket availability but it would also work towards boosting the prospect of a third team in the future. Of course it's just pie in the sky at the moment.

Indeed, but I thought the point of having the teams based in the north was because this was where the heart of the fan base is located?

[Leinster Believer]

Indeed, but I thought the point of having the teams based in the north was because this was where the heart of the fan base is located?

Yep. It would be great to get a team in Rome but this is this their first venture and they are right to have the rugby teams where they play rugby. It can only build up after that once they've a solid base. Same as what has happened in Ireland.

Once the provinces got their act together and were successful eventually the fan base extended from their core heartland and now doesn't resemble anything like it was 10 years ago.

[footrush]

Will just have to wait for the ML to release fixture dates just lile we have to at present.

Small enough grounds at 9.5k and 3.5k capacity (the bigger being Treviso). We had them a few years back in the HEC.

If we get them next season (in the HEC)it means people going to these new ML venues might be a stretch, in saying that Ryanair serve airports close enough to both, so hopefully that makes it a bit easier.

Was at that game , great spot , wonderful people would love to go back .