subject: Men Against Each Other Of Ireland And Italy In Rugby World Cup 2011 [print this page] The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) (Irish: Cumann Rugba na hireann) is the body managing rugby union in Ireland. The IRFU has its head office and grounds at Aviva Stadium, where Irish rugby union international matches are played. In addition, the Union also owns Ravenhill in Belfast, Thomond Park in Limerick and a number of grounds in provincial areas that have been rented to clubs.
Rugby union is a popular sport in Italy. The sport is thought to have been introduced to the country in the early 1900s, with an organisational committee being established in 1911. The Super 10 competition is the main club rugby competition in the country, although clubs also participate in Europe's Heineken Cup. Italy compete annually in the Six Nations Championship, and have competed at the Rugby World Cup. Italy is classified as a tier one nation by the International Rugby Board.
The governing body of Italian rugby union is the Federazione Italiana Rugby (FIR). An original organisational committee was established in 1911, although it was in 1928 when the body became the FIR, and in 1987, they joined the International Rugby Board. In 1934 the FIR became founding members of the Federation Internationale de Rugby Amateur.
They started in the so-called "Group of death" with hosts France, Argentina, Namibia and Georgia in the 2007 World Cup. They played Namibia (the lowest ranked team in the World cup) in their opening game on September 9 which resulted in a narrow 32-17 win. Their progress was then put into doubt when they beat Georgia 14-10, not obtaining a bonus point. France's victory over Namibia 87-10 put Ireland's progression from the group in doubt, and this was compounded when the French defeated Ireland 25-3. Entering their last group match against Argentina, needing four tries to secure a bonus point without allowing Argentina anything, Ireland were defeated by 30 points to 15 and crashed out at the pool stage for the first time.
Ireland's highest ever position in the IRB World Rankings is third which they reached in 2003 and 2006. They currently lie in fifth position as of 18 February 2010 after their defeat by France in the Six Nations.
by: Roger O Shuffel
welcome to Insurances.net (https://www.insurances.net)
