Dark Clouds Looming for Zebre

Dark clouds are looming for Zebre Rugby. In the midst of the Guinness Pro 12 expanding, the Parma-based side may not be involved. It has been confirmed from sources within Italy that Zebre’s players are owed two months pay and that training for the 2017-2018 season is yet to begin.

Aironi Version 2.0
This is not one of a kind. The Zebre team was put together following the collapse of Aironi. When Italy joined the Celtic-Italian League it was with two sides – Benetton Treviso and Aironi. Both based in Northern Italy they were, in effect, north-east and north-west sides.

The teams joined for the 2010-2011 season with Aironi replaced by Zebre after two seasons. Aironi had struggled badly on the field, finishing bottom of the Pro 12 both seasons. The team managed one win in its inaugural Pro 12 campaign and four in its second.

A lack of results on the field was only part of Aironi’s problem. The team was unable to draw sufficient local support and had notable financial difficulties. The Italian Rugby Federation (FIR) took action to revoke Aironi’s license to play in the Pro 12 and in the European Champions Cup.

From the ashes of Aironi Zebre was born. The FIR wanted to avoid an Italian club replacing Aironi. They thus put their resources into a new franchise. The result was moving the base from Viadana south to Parma and, in June 2012, it was made official.

Pro 14
Should Zebre indeed fold the league would not, in actuality shrink. Indeed the Guinness Pro 12 is to become the Pro 14. The new teams are to be the Cheetahs and Southern Kings, the two South African sides no longer involved in Super Rugby.

With Super Rugby downsizing from 18 to 15 teams the Bloemfontein and Port Elizabeth sides are two of the three victims. The remaining side to be axed is Australian. It is extremely nervous times for the Melbourne Rebels and Western Force who await the ARU’s decision.

Despite the season being just a month and a half away, the fixtures have not yet been finalized and nor has the structure let alone the competitors. Leaked information from a meeting at Pro 12 headquarters in Dublin, Ireland suggests that the Cheetahs and Southern Kings are play in the Pro 12 on a six-year deal.

As such South Africa would be unique in having competing teams in Super Rugby and the Pro 12. It would be the first non-European team, with the USA reportedly being targeted to join in 2018-2019. The team would be based in Washington D.C.

The Pro 14 will thereby become a four union model for the upcoming season and then a five union model with the USA on board. Expansion may not be limited to these countries though. Indeed there have been talks to have Georgia, Germany and Spain included.

The 2017-2018 Pro 14 awaits Zebre’s confirmation. With it the league is to be divided into two conferences of seven teams. The teams are to be split down the middle in terms of nationality. This means one team from Italy, Scotland and South Africa in each group and two from Ireland and Wales.

The French Top 14 model will then be used for the play-off’s. The respective conference winners will advance to the Semi Finals while the second and third placed sides will compete in barrage. The two winners will then advance to the Semi Finals.

If Zebre’s ongoing financial problems are not dealt with then the conference model would need to be altered to be one of seven and one of six. In which case Benetton Treviso would be the one Italian side in the presumably rebranded Guinness Pro 13.

Move to France?
A potential move to France exists for Italian sides. It has been mooted both past and present that Italy ought to look closer to home. The LNR and FFR may serve as the answer for the FIR.

Getting permission to play in their competitions is not a golden ticket though. Teams are required to win their way up divisions through promotion. Italian rugby would therefore require permission not only to play in French competition but to enter at an appropriate division.

France has 30 fully professional teams spread over the Top 14 and Pro D2. Further down there are the Fédérale 1, Fédérale 2 and Fédérale 3, France’s 3rd, 4th and 5th divisions. Italy entering to play in the Fédérale 3 would be counter productive. The jury is out on whether the Pro D2 would suffice. It must be pointed out that this would require avoiding relegation.

Americas Players
Last season Zebre had three players from the Americas. Of them Guillermo Roan has departed. Roan left Parma to return to La Plata and is now playing again for the team in the URBA Top 12. This leaves Bruno Postiglioni and Serafin Bordoli on the team’s books.

Postiglioni is a capped Puma. The 30-year-old has 18 caps for Argentina, the last of which came against Paraguay in 2015. He had been one of two options as back-up to Marcos Ayerza under Daniel Hourcade. Lucas Noguera Paz ultimately got the nod but Postiglioni’s departure to Italy played a part in the decision.

Bordoli is similar to Postiglioni in that he went through the Argentine national system. The 22-year-old fly half represented Argentina at u18, u 19 and u20 levels. But with other players getting opportunities with the Argentina XV, Bordoli would depart for Italy. He qualifies to play for Italy based on eligibility laws.