A new sport in the spotlight for our province - this was how the Gazzette of Mantova of 9 October 1970 announced the birth of the Rugby sector within the Vitellianense Cebogas Multisports Club. Up to that date the Viadana Rugby team had been able to arrange only one match with the youth team of Rugby Parma, coming away beaten 19-9, however it's worth remembering the team list consisting of: Casali, Benazzi, Barosi, De Carli, Petazzini, Sacchi, Aroldi, Gozzi, Bedulli, Farina, Piccoli, Sforza, Rosa, Panicalli, Coppi. Amongst the committee members we also find Accountant. Taragnani and Dr. Besana. The team was born thanks to an initiative of a number of players who gained their first rugby experience with Rugby Parma, a city they attended for reasons of study. Following a number of meetings at "The Underground Cave" - a notable cultural venue at the time, and involving Cesare Bortolotti, noted for his interest in alternative sports, players Farina, Arnoldi, Bedulli and Lotti - the only initial members who already had rugby experience - gathered around them all their friends that they had and founded Rugby Viadana. Today it appears surprising how it was possible that a group of youngsters were prepared to assume such a great responsibility and, with such serenity, passion and spirit of sacrifice got to work to realize this dream. These were the years of young people's uprising and dissent in general, and this generation certainly didn't lack the effort and desire to create with a perseverance and persistence that today would be rare to find. They were able to rent from the Town Council a small piece of land alongside the Council sports field in Via Al Ponte which was declared the rugby pitch. The club colours stayed those of Cebogas Multisports Club; yellow and black. The responsibility for coaching was assumed by the founder members who were also logically the most expert - Aroldi and Farina. Cebogas Viadana then joined the 'D' division, the lowest division of the 4 levels at national standard. The official launch was then at Florence against TTI and resulted in a second defeat, however at the end of the championship Viadana had won 5 of their 12 matches, resulting in an honourable central position in the division. Obviously the basis of a phenomenon had been launched, which had begun to involve and excite an ever increasing interest amongst the Viadana sports community. The following sporting season was characterized by a gradual increase in the rugby movement, and Viadana managed to gain the promotion to the division above after season 1971/72 thanks to a championship played with great willingness which gifted the first place in the division and consequently a place in Division C. Successive seasons then saw the signs of the inevitable crisis in growth of a movement which however continued to expend. The interchange of players then started of some , and more so the club acquired a coach fircoach of some standing, Parma born Marcello Bersellini who combined coaching with his with his other role of player with Parma Rugby in Division A. Bersellini coached Viadana for 5 years, without promotion, creating however the basis for a true consolidation for the Rugby Viadana team. In those years emerged certain athletes who would become fundamental in the future success of the yellow and blacks, amongst which merits a mention Luigi Zaffanella who historically became the first captain of Viadana. Following season 1977/78 the direction of the team changes, and they were entrusted to Paolo Pavesi, yet another emblematic figure in the story of Rugby Viadana to leave their mark on the movement. | From 1980 to 1989 >>