England to play Italy in historic first international

[League Express]

History will be made on Saturday October 19 when England and Italy play their first ever Rugby League international in a friendly fixture at Salford.

The match will take place just seven days before England kick-off Rugby League World Cup 2013 against Australia in the opening fixture of the 14-nation tournament at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium, where Italy face Wales on the same day in an eagerly-anticipated double-header.

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[brooza]

Will have to see about coming up for that one

[Gruff]

Funnily enough this has stoked my interest more than say Eng vs France/Wales

[ehbandit]

I remember barla beating Italy in 2000 world cup , I think the coach of Italy played in it, with a lot of nrl players also. cant see them being a test for England!

[thirteenthman]

I don't think that WC warm up games should be played in venues which will be hosting actual WC matches. As for the match itself, a lot depends on what sort of squad Italy bring over, but you'd expect England wouldn't be too troubled by them.

 

It should have been Lebanon

 

It would have been nice if some of the sides that didn't qualify could've been used by sides in the WC for warm up games, although then I guess we're back to the old issue of finances. I'm sure the likes of Lebanon would've loved to have tested themselves against one of the WC sides.

Edited July 3, 2013 by thirteenthman

[Yakstorm]

Didn't Italy play England and France in a triangular tournament in 52/53?

 

Regardless if nothing else this match will prove to be a good warm up for England leading into their clash against Australia.  Italy will be forming a relatively strong squad and will be keen to show everyone how competitive they can be.

[westlondonfan]

Good idea. Will Craig Gower be back sooner than anyone have predicted?

[audois]

Italy beat Russia this past week 38-18. Captained by the Australian Ray Nasso the Avignon hooker who was MOTM in this years Lord Derby Cup Final. Other French based players included centre Christophe Calegari & prop Cedric Prizzon.

[T-Dub]

I remember barla beating Italy in 2000 world cup , I think the coach of Italy played in it, with a lot of nrl players also. cant see them being a test for England!

My abiding memories of GB BARLA at Dewsbury are a supporter with a bell and BARLA refusing to lend Italy a kicking tee to kick off with

The Morocco squad were there (I read that the Moroccan RFU intends abolishing them if possible in Lesgue Express this week) as were USA Women

[GeordieSaint]

Good to see England having a warm-up game before the start of the tournament; Itlay of course will be a stern test. I wish it wasn't at Salford though; it's a venue for the competition itself.

[gingerjon]

Didn't Italy play England and France in a triangular tournament in 52/53?

 

Maybe that was Great Britain?

[ehbandit]

My abiding memories of GB BARLA at Dewsbury are a supporter with a bell and BARLA refusing to lend Italy a kicking tee to kick off with

The Morocco squad were there (I read that the Moroccan RFU intends abolishing them if possible in Lesgue Express this week) as were USA Women

I remember the crowd singing "who let the dogs out" all the game, I don't know why tho! I think the barla team was a very strong one at the time. I will try and find a team list

[boxhead]

I think it will be a great game, as mentioned with the NRL players in the Italian squad it could be pretty entertaining where the ball gets some air and attack is the order of the day.

Edited July 3, 2013 by AndyCapp

[buford t justice]

We'll be battle hardened for the world cup opener then, nothing like hammering a team full of part timers to prepare a side.

What a farce, they'd have been better off playing a team made up of players from the Championship.

[boxhead]

We'll be battle hardened for the world cup opener then, nothing like hammering a team full of part timers to prepare a side.

What a farce, they'd have been better off playing a team made up of players from the Championship.

 

Not sure about that.

Anthony Minichello

Mark  Minichello

Aidan Guerra

Shaun Berrigan

Vic Mauro

Craig Gower

James Tedesco

Anthony Laffranchi

Cameron Ciraldo

Kade Snowden

Terry Campese

 

Add some local Italians to complete the team.

 

That team is not much worse than the Exiles team

http://www.tntmagazine.com/news/australia-news/italys-nrl-stars-to-turn-out-in-rugby-league-world-cup-for-free

 

 

[welshmagpie]

I remember the crowd singing "who let the dogs out" all the game, I don't know why tho! I think the barla team was a very strong one at the time. I will try and find a team list

BARLA team was...

1. Dave Hedgecock

2. Stephen Norton

3. Phil O'Neil

4. Darrell Cooper

5. Wayne McHugh

6. Darren Jones

7. Terry Lynn

8. Stuart Dancer

9. Mark Jackson

10. Nigel Halmshaw

11. Brian Newby

12. Ian Devlin

13. Scott Fletcher

Sub: Rob Shaw, Paul Davidson, Phil Sherwen, Paul Birdsall

[buford t justice]

An international team full of Aussies who cant get in their national side - just what the game needs.

[boxhead]

An international team full of Aussies who cant get in their national side - just what the game needs.

No different than the last World Cup, Australia supplied about 100 "heritage players" to various teams.

If that is changed then the World Cup will become a comp of three strong teams and a bunch of park players in the rest of the teams.

I am neither for or against it.

[ehbandit]

BARLA team was...

1. Dave Hedgecock

2. Stephen Norton

3. Phil O'Neil

4. Darrell Cooper

5. Wayne McHugh

6. Darren Jones

7. Terry Lynn

8. Stuart Dancer

9. Mark Jackson

10. Nigel Halmshaw

11. Brian Newby

12. Ian Devlin

13. Scott Fletcher

Sub: Rob Shaw, Paul Davidson, Phil Sherwen, Paul Birdsall

thanks!

[colin84hunter]

i agree it should have been given to a staidum that didnt get a WC game, Keepmoat (should have had a WC game, rather than two at Craven Park), Halton Stadium or Bramall Lane (or even reebok).

 

I will be going though.

 

Who will the other host nation play against in their warm up game? France?

[HKR AWAY DAYS]

The fact that this game is being played at all is what interests me. Good stuff!

[jim_57]

Not a fan of the choice of venue. Having it played in Italy would have been ideal, failing that a venue that didn't have a WC fixture. I'd say alot of the crowd for this match will be picking instead of and not aswell as a WC game.

Also a risky choice of opposition for England, if they slip up against a team seen as a minnow one week out from the World Cup it won't be a good look. Hopefully any media in the lead up to the game promotes the strength of the Italian team because they won't be shirt of NRL players

[Doghead]

thought it was announced last week.

[brooza]

thought it was announced last week.

Not officially, but some reporters mentioned it in articles

[colin84hunter]

Not officially announced last week, confirmed today

 

Will Sky go for this seen as they missed out on the WC? or does the fact it is on the Saturday mean it will be a 14:30 ko on the bbc. (or PS?)

 

I would prefer it to be on the bbc so it is in line with the world cup