Through the offices of Penguin Membership Secretary Vincent Bramhall and a chance introduction through the Penguini (the Italian Penguin members) to Luigi Grande, a link was established to the Penguin Coaching Academy. Luigi then introduced the Penguins to Andrea Nicotra (from Sicily) from the Italian Rugby Federation Committee. Penguin Secretary Graeme Inglis then met with Andrea to discuss how the Penguins could help support rugby in Italy, especially at the grass roots level. Andrea was very enthusiastic about the Penguin Coaching Academy and in particular he saw value in assisting the development of rugby within the Italian Prison system, which was a project he had been working on for a number of years.
Brothers Neil and Richie Young duly accepted the task and set off from Newcastle via Amsterdam to Bologna. They based themselves at the Hotel Holiday in Bologna which was reasonably close to both the prison and Colorno Club where the activities would take place. Read the full intriguing report here.
Penguin International Rugby Charity
The Penguin International Rugby Football Trust is
registered with the UK Charity Commission under Charity No 1081047.
