Ulster Rugby v Benetton Rugby

10 THINGS YOU MIGHT LIKE TO KNOW ABOUT BENETTON RUGBY

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They boast 31 internationally capped players in their squad. Italy coach Conor O’Shea included no fewer than 15 players from Benetton Rugby on his panel for the Autumn international series. Coach Kieran Crowley, a former All Black fullback, joined Treviso last year after a lengthy spell in charge of Canada – and in the ‘90s played his rugby for Parma. Outhalf Ian McKinley, who lost his sight in one eye when at Leinster, completed a fairytale return to the game when ‘capped’ by Italy against Fiji this month.

Based in Treviso, the north- eastern town often described as ‘The Gateway to Venice’, the Italian club formally rebranded as Benetton Rugby in 2017. The club in Treviso was founded in the amateur game of 1932 and has been owned by the famed clothing company since 1979.

10 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT BENETTON

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As Treviso the Italian Premiership Championship was won for the first time in 1952.

14 more domestic league titles have been secured and the prestigious Coppa Italia championship has been won on four occasions.

Benetton Rugby’s longtime home has been the 6,700-capacity Stadio Comunale di Monigo.

The club’s ambitions stretched to signing World Cup winners Michael Lynagh from Australia, and All Black Sir John Kirwan.

As domestic champions in 2010 Benetton Rugby - joined by Aironi - entered the expanding Celtic League.

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www. ULSTERRUGBY .com