GoodbyeTV

What do we often hear nowadays about Italy in the press?

So here’s a story the international press, let alone major Italian broadsheets and news channels, probably won’t be covering. It, in fact, deals head on with these kinds of issues. But in a GOOD way.

In short, a group of families from Latina, a little town an hour or so south of Rome, decided they didn’t want their Rugby club (the only one in the area) taken over by politicians with the desire to turn it into a soccer field and score votes and panache by doing so with local elections looming.

These families (300 or more, which is  certainly  a lot for a small town) fought back and opened their own facebook page (enough to force the local political cronies to take note). They also approached with sucess local papers and television networks where they passionately presented their Rugby case.

They then removed the old president they felt too tied to above mentioned cronies and took over the club themselves.

That’s right. A rugby club in Italy completely run by the families of the children that play there. And through the power of their numbers they are making the local politicians keep the club as it is and renovate the public space.

Their reason ? Quite simple. They want their children to grow up and be educated in a club that they feel will teach them teamwork, respect for rules, the love of sport for sport’s sake, and how to be part of a community.

The club takes in anyone and everyone, boys and girls alike, from as young as 5. They have children from disadvantaged backgrounds, immigrants (predominately Romanian and Polish at present) and children with behavioral problems, of which they have had enormous success.  And this is a town that has not only always been right wing, but was even founded by Mussolini!

It’s the love of rugby in a country addicted to the high paying competitive celebrity world of the soccer clubs.  It’s the desire to actively take back public space from greedy self serving politicians for families, children and the community at large. It’s parents who want to  give their children a better start in life and a solid education.

Good for them.

The politicians continue to try even today I find, as I speak to my source within the rugby club, to corrupt its members. “But they,” she says,  ”are in corruptable,” as their aim is far different from money, fame or power. “It’s a question of principle.”

We salute you Latina Rugby Club and wish you the best of luck!!