Crociati Parma Rugby F.C. are an Italian
rugby union
Rugby union football, commonly known simply as rugby union in English-speaking countries and rugby 15/XV in non-English-speaking world, Anglophone Europe, or often just rugby, is a Contact sport#Terminology, close-contact team sport that orig ...
club. They are based in
Parma
Parma (; ) is a city in the northern Italian region of Emilia-Romagna known for its architecture, Giuseppe Verdi, music, art, prosciutto (ham), Parmesan, cheese and surrounding countryside. With a population of 198,986 inhabitants as of 2025, ...
in
Emilia-Romagna
Emilia-Romagna (, , both , ; or ; ) is an Regions of Italy, administrative region of northern Italy, comprising the historical regions of Emilia (region), Emilia and Romagna. Its capital is Bologna. It has an area of , and a population of 4.4 m ...
. They were founded in 2010 by the merger of Rugby Parma F.C. (''Overmach Parma'') and F.C. Rugby Noceto and disbanded in 2014.
Rugby Parma
''Rugby Parma'' was founded in 1931 by Gianni Penzi, Mario Pirazzoli and Peter Zini. In the following years the university organized friendly games, then began official competitions. In 1935 Parma joined the Italian first division. As a result of a break with the university in 1946, Rugby Parma was founded.
In the fifties Parma won three Italian championships (1949–50, 1954–55 and 1956–57). In the sixties they won two youth championships (1961–62 and 1966–67). In 1973–74 and 1987–88 the team were relegated only to return immediately to the top flight. From the 1993–94 to 1997–98 they played in Seria A2. In 1998–99 they were back in Seria A (renamed Super 10, now
Top12
The Top10, known as the Peroni Top10 for sponsorship reasons, and formerly Top 12, is Italy's top level professional men's rugby union competition. The Top 10 is run by Federazione Italiana Rugby (FIR) and is contested by 10 teams as of the 2 ...
).
On 2 June 2006, Parma defeated
Newport Gwent Dragons of Wales 24-15 in the
Heineken Cup 24th Place Play-off
The Heineken Cup 24th place play-off, in rugby union, was a single game play-off that was formerly used to determine the final qualifier for the subsequent season's Heineken Cup.
This play-off was scrapped, effective with the 2009–10 season, due ...
at
Rodney Parade
Rodney Parade is a stadium in the city of Newport, South Wales. It is located on the east bank of the River Usk in Newport city centre. The ground is on Rodney Road, a short walk from the city's central bus and railway stations via Newport Bri ...
to claim the 24th and final spot in the
2006–07 Heineken Cup
The 2006–07 Heineken Cup was the 12th edition of the European Heineken Cup rugby union club tournament. The pool draw took place on 21 June at Twickenham. The pool stages started on 20 October and concluded in January, going for six rounds. Foll ...
. In doing so they became the first Italian team to win the end of season Heineken Cup play-off (a match regularly contested between teams from the
Celtic League
The Celtic League is a pan-Celtic organization, founded in 1961, that aims to promote modern Celtic identity and culture in Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Brittany, Cornwall and the Isle of Man – referred to as the Celtic nations; it places pa ...
and the Italian
National Championship of Excellence), and ensured Italy would have three entrants in the competition, equal with Wales and Ireland, and one more than Scotland.
Crociati Rugby FC
Crociati Rugby FC were formed in June 2010 by the merger of Overmach Rugby Parma FC and Noceto Rugby FC.
The club ran a senior team that competed in the
National Championship of Excellence and an under-20s team. They will be based at Stadio XX Aprile, Moletolo, Parma. In 2010/2011 the new club also competed in the
Amlin Challenge Cup
The EPCR Challenge Cup is an annual rugby union competition organised by European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR). It is the second-tier competition for clubs based in European leagues behind the European Rugby Champions Cup. From its inception i ...
.
Each merging club maintained independent youth sections up to Under-20 level. The merger was made necessary by the formation of
Aironi
Aironi Rugby (, "herons") was an Italian professional rugby union team competing in the Pro12 and the Heineken Cup, representing the Italian regions of Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna. It lost its status as a regional side at the end of the 2011–12 ...
to compete in the
Celtic League
The Celtic League is a pan-Celtic organization, founded in 1961, that aims to promote modern Celtic identity and culture in Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Brittany, Cornwall and the Isle of Man – referred to as the Celtic nations; it places pa ...
from 2010/2011. Both clubs were shareholders in Aironi. With the best players and sponsorship now being concentrated in Aironi the clubs could not financially field individual professional rugby teams.
Aironi struggled in the two season in the Magners League ran into financial difficulties and were replaced by
Zebre
Zebre Parma (, meaning " Zebras") are an Italian professional rugby union team competing in the United Rugby Championship and EPCR competitions from the 2012–13 season. They are based in Parma (Emilia-Romagna), Italy. They are operated by t ...
.
Parma rugby honours
*
National Championship of Excellence:
** Champions: 1950, 1955, 1957
*
Coppa Italia
Coppa Italia () is the annual domestic cup of Italian football. The knockout competition was organized by the DDS and the Lega Calcio until the 2009–10 season and by Lega Serie A ever since.
Juventus is the competition's most successf ...
:
** Champions: 2005-06, 2007–08, 2008–09
*
Italian Super Cup
The Supercoppa Italiana, also known as the Italian Super Cup, is an annual super cup tournament in Italian football. Founded in 1988 as a two-team competition, it has featured four teams since 2023 (the winners and runners-up of the previous sea ...
:
** Champions (1)
Notable former players
*
Miguel Ruiz (
Argentina
Argentina, officially the Argentine Republic, is a country in the southern half of South America. It covers an area of , making it the List of South American countries by area, second-largest country in South America after Brazil, the fourt ...
)
*
Alvaro Tejeda (
Argentina
Argentina, officially the Argentine Republic, is a country in the southern half of South America. It covers an area of , making it the List of South American countries by area, second-largest country in South America after Brazil, the fourt ...
)
*
Federico Todeschini
Federico Todeschini (born August 8, 1975 in Rosario) is an Argentine rugby union footballer. He has played for several teams in Argentina, Italy and France, he has also represented the Argentina national rugby union team on several occasions sin ...
(
Argentina
Argentina, officially the Argentine Republic, is a country in the southern half of South America. It covers an area of , making it the List of South American countries by area, second-largest country in South America after Brazil, the fourt ...
)
*
Tomás Vallejos
Tomás Vallejos Cinalli (born 16 October 1984) is an Argentine rugby union player.
A lock forward, Vallejos started his career at Logaritmo Rugby Club in Rosario, before moving to Italy to play professionally for Overmach Parma. Vallejos signe ...
(
Argentina
Argentina, officially the Argentine Republic, is a country in the southern half of South America. It covers an area of , making it the List of South American countries by area, second-largest country in South America after Brazil, the fourt ...
)
*
Michael Barbieri (
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...
)
*
Luke Tait
Luke Tait (born 26 October 1981 in Barrie, Ontario) is a Canadian rugby union player. He plays as a lock.
Tait last played for James Bay of the British Columbia Premiership. He has played previously for Cardiff RFC, Ospreys, Overmach Parma, an ...
(
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...
)
*
Sireli Bobo
Isireli Bobo (born 28 January 1976), is a Fijian rugby union footballer.
Early career
Early in his career, he played for Grupo Dramático e Sportivo Cascais, a Portuguese team.
He was in the Nawaqavesi 7s and was subsequently picked to play ...
(
Fiji
Fiji, officially the Republic of Fiji, is an island country in Melanesia, part of Oceania in the South Pacific Ocean. It lies about north-northeast of New Zealand. Fiji consists of an archipelago of more than 330 islands—of which about ...
)
*
Wame Lewaravu
Ratu Wame Ganilau Lewaravu (born 24 September 1983, in Lautoka) is a Fijian rugby union player. He plays as a lock.
Career
Early career
Lewaravu attended Suva Grammar school in Fiji and won the Deans trophy in 2001 with the schools 1st XV.
He ...
(
Fiji
Fiji, officially the Republic of Fiji, is an island country in Melanesia, part of Oceania in the South Pacific Ocean. It lies about north-northeast of New Zealand. Fiji consists of an archipelago of more than 330 islands—of which about ...
)
*
Maikeli Sego (
Fiji
Fiji, officially the Republic of Fiji, is an island country in Melanesia, part of Oceania in the South Pacific Ocean. It lies about north-northeast of New Zealand. Fiji consists of an archipelago of more than 330 islands—of which about ...
)
*
Robert Barbieri
Robert Julian Barbieri (born 5 June 1984) is a Canadian-born Italian retired rugby union player. He played as a flanker. He decided to represent Italy.
Club career
He played for Yeomen (2000–03) in Canada, before moving to the Italian side O ...
(
Italy
Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...
)
*
Cristian Bezzi (
Italy
Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...
)
*
Aldo Birchall (
Italy
Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...
)
*
Carlo Del Fava
Carlo Antonio Del Fava (born 1 July 1981) is a former rugby union player. His preferred position was Lock. After hanging his boots up he then decided to take up coaching. Born in South Africa, he played for Italy internationally.
Rugby career
D ...
(
Italy
Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...
)
*
Alberto De Marchi
Alberto De Marchi (born 13 March 1986 in Jesolo, Italy) is a retired Italian rugby union player. His preferred position is Prop. He previously played for Benetton Treviso in the Pro12 competition. Before that he played for Aironi. He also repres ...
(
Italy
Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...
)
*
Roland de Marigny
Roland de Marigny (born 17 November 1975) is an Italian rugby union footballer. His normal position is fullback though he can also play centre or fly-half.
Personal life
Marigny was born in Durban, South Africa
South Africa, official ...
(
Italy
Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...
)
*
Simone Favaro
Simone Favaro (born 7 November 1988) is a retired Italian international rugby union player. He made his debut for Italy against Australia on 20 June 2009. He formerly played for Glasgow Warriors and Treviso in the Pro12. Favaro plays at flanker.
...
(
Italy
Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...
)
*
Fabio Gaetaniello
Fabio Gaetaniello (born 25 August 1958 in Livorno) is a former Italian rugby union player and coach. He played as a centre.
Club career
He started his career at CUS Pisa, like his brother Fabrizio, who also would be an international player, whe ...
(
Italy
Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...
)
*
Ezio Galon
Ezio Galon (born 22 July 1977) is a former Italian rugby union player.
He played for Mogliano Rugby in the Top12, Excellence competition. A native of Treviso, he formerly played for Rugby Parma F.C., Rugby Parma and, in 2000-2005, in the French ...
(
Italy
Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...
)
*
Davide Giazzon
Davide Giazzon (born 16 January 1986 in Venice) is an Italian rugby union player. His preferred position is at Hooker, although he can also play at Prop. He currently plays for Zebre in the Pro12 and the Heineken Cup
The European Rugby Champi ...
(
Italy
Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...
)
*
Alessandro Ghini
Alessandro Ghini (born Parma, 4 May 1961) is a former Italian rugby union player and a current coach. He played as a scrum-half.
Ghini started his player career at Rugby Parma F.C. 1931, where he premiered in the first team in 1977, aged only 1 ...
(
Italy
Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...
)
*
Sergio Lanfranchi (
Italy
Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...
)
*
Francesco Mazzariol
Francesco "Coco" Mazzariol (born 1 March 1975 in Treviso) is an Italian former rugby union footballer and a current coach. He played firstly as a scrum-half (rugby union), scrum-half, and later in his career (with more success) at fly half.
Car ...
(
Italy
Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...
)
*
Nicola Mazzucato
Nicola Mazzucato (born 27 October 1975 in Padua) is a former Italian rugby union footballer and the former coach of the SMRUFC. He played as a wing achieving over 40 caps for Italy, playing in 2 world cups and 4 trips to the 6 nations.
Mazzucato ...
(
Italy
Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...
)
*
Francesco Minto
Francesco Minto (born 29 May 1987) is a former Italian rugby union player, and has been capped for the Italian national team for 39 occasions. His usual position was at flank.
From 2010 to 2018 he currently played for Benetton in the Pro14.
...
(
Italy
Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...
)
*
Tino Paoletti
Celestino Paoletti (born 28 January 1977) is an Italian former rugby union international.
Career
A Florence-born prop, Paoletti was an Italy international in 2000 and 2001, gaining a total of 15 caps. He made his debut in Italy's maiden Six Natio ...
(
Italy
Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...
)
*
Gilberto Pavan (
Italy
Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...
)
*
Gert Peens (
Italy
Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...
)
*
Corrado Pilat
Corrado Pilat (born 24 September 1974 in Belluno) is a former Italian international rugby union player and a current coach.
He played as a fullback and as a fly-half.
He played professionally for Benetton Treviso, from 1998/99 to 200/01, where ...
(
Italy
Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...
)
*
Roberto Quartaroli (
Italy
Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...
)
*
Stefano Romagnoli
Stefano Romagnoli (born Bologna, 5 February 1955) is a former Italian rugby union player and current coach. He played as a prop.
Career
Born and grown in the Emilian capital. Bologna, He debuted at 16 years with Bologna in 1971; then, he moved t ...
(
Italy
Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...
)
*
Stefano Saviozzi (
Italy
Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...
)
*
Fabio Staibano (
Italy
Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...
)
*
Daniele Tebaldi
Daniele Tebaldi (born 24 April 1961 in Parma) is a former Italian rugby union player and a current coach. He played as a fullback.
Tebaldi played for Rugby Noceto and Rugby Parma F.C. 1931 in the National Championship of Excellence in Italy.
...
(
Italy
Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...
)
*
Pietro Travagli
Pietro Travagli (born 28 April 1981) is an Italian rugby union player. He plays as a scrum-half.
He plays for Petrarca Padova Rugby, Petrarca in the Top12.
He was called up to the Italy national rugby union team, Italy squad for the 2008 Six Na ...
(
Italy
Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...
)
*
Manoa Vosawai
Manoa Vosawai (born 12 August 1983 in Suva, Fiji) is an Italian rugby union player. He currently plays for the Cardiff Blues in Wales. He made his debut with the Italy national rugby union team, Italian national side on August 18, 2007 in a match ...
(
Italy
Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...
)
*
Daniel Bowden
Daniel Russell Bowden (born 1 April 1986) is a New Zealand rugby union player, currently playing for in the Mitre 10 Cup.
Bowden played three seasons for the Northland Taniwha in the National Provincial Championship. He debuted at the age of ...
(
New Zealand
New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...
)
*
Leo Lafaiali'i
Leo Lafaiali'i (born 30 January 1974 in Auckland, New Zealand) is a Samoan rugby union footballer.
Career
Leo Lafaiali'i made his debut for Samoa in 2001 against Tonga, going on to play in Test matches against , , and later on in the year ...
(
Samoa
Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa and known until 1997 as Western Samoa, is an island country in Polynesia, part of Oceania, in the South Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main islands (Savai'i and Upolu), two smaller, inhabited ...
)
*
Silao Leaega (
Samoa
Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa and known until 1997 as Western Samoa, is an island country in Polynesia, part of Oceania, in the South Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main islands (Savai'i and Upolu), two smaller, inhabited ...
)
*
Pelu Taele
Pelu Ian Taele-Pavihi (born 28 September 1981, in Dunedin), also known as Pelu Taele, is a New Zealand-born Samoan and Niue international rugby union footballer. He is a second row forward who joined Biarritz Olympique before the 2009–10 sea ...
(
Samoa
Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa and known until 1997 as Western Samoa, is an island country in Polynesia, part of Oceania, in the South Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main islands (Savai'i and Upolu), two smaller, inhabited ...
)
*
Alesana Tuilagi
Alesana "Alex" Tuilagi (born 24 February 1981) is a former Samoans, Samoan rugby union, rugby player. He is a retired rugby player, currently residing in Fogapoa Savaii and has appeared numerous times for his national team Samoa national rugby u ...
(
Samoa
Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa and known until 1997 as Western Samoa, is an island country in Polynesia, part of Oceania, in the South Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main islands (Savai'i and Upolu), two smaller, inhabited ...
)
*
Henry Tuilagi
Enele "Henry" Tuilagi (born 12 August 1976) is a Samoan former professional rugby union player who played in the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s. He appeared ten times for the Samoa national team and played club rugby in Italy, France and England.
In 200 ...
(
Samoa
Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa and known until 1997 as Western Samoa, is an island country in Polynesia, part of Oceania, in the South Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main islands (Savai'i and Upolu), two smaller, inhabited ...
)
*
Paul Emerick
Paul Emerick (born January 24, 1980) is the head coach of the Colorado Raptors, American Raptors in Glendale, Colorado. He was the defense and skills coach and the 2019 interim head coach for the Houston SaberCats of Major League Rugby. He was a ...
(
USA
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 contiguous ...
)
*
Albert Tuipulotu (
USA
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 contiguous ...
)
Statistics
European Challenge Cup
Heineken Cup
References
{{Rugby union in Italy
Rugby union teams in Italy
Rugby clubs established in 2010
Sport in Parma