With Pavesi (an athlete of immense value for Rugby Parma, and many times an international), Viadana won their first historic promotion to Division B. The President of the Club was Coppi Fiorenzo, and the main sponsor Mondialpan. During that year (1981) the joy of success was marred by the premature loss of captain Zaffanella following a road accident on 25 April. This was also the first year in which Viadana fielded for the first time an overseas foreign player - New Zealander Bruce Webb, who then left open his position to be followed by Welshman Leyton May. Viadana managed to preserve their place in Division B in a season during which saw the departure from the staff of the yellow and blacks of the coach Pavesi. In his place arrived a certain Franco Bernini who began his collaboration with Viadana in Division B, however you must accept the verdict of the championship which condemned Viadana to slip back to Division C. This was however to be a singular episode given that the yellow and blacks, thanks to a new sponsor: La Svad, and a new club asset (new President Paolo Benazzi), were able to regain their place in Division B in a memorable year crowned by 14 victories and only one defeat. Following years of victories and losses in Div.B and the movement in obvious growth it was necessary to count the ever increasing costs of a championship at national level. Without a sponsor for 4 seasons, Viadana managed thanks to great sacrifice and accurate activity during the player market which allowed a valuation of the growth of the club, to integrate foreign players of notable quality such as Mark Finlay; the first All Black to wear the yellow and black shirt. Thus we arrive at the season 86/87 that became the year of the first promotion in division A2, won after a hard championship which culminated with the last victory on the last day against Colleferro, soundly beaten at the old Bottari stadium 15-13. Captain of the yellow and blacks was Fabrizio Nolli, standard bearer of Viadana Rugby, who alongside Bernini was able to taste for the second time the joy of promotion. Riding on the resultant wave of enthusiasm a new sponsor of the highest quality arrived - The Reggio Emilia Savings Bank, necessary to face up to an adventure that would see Viadana figure in the first 24 teams at national level. Finlay agreed to stay with Viadana for another year, and alongside him as second foreign player arrived on the banks of the Po no less than a superman of world rugby, the Tongan Emosi Tangi Tangi Koloto. Together with Finlay they formed one of the strongest pairings in the championships, destined to leave an indelible mark both on the story of Rugby Viadana and in the hearts of all who had the good fortune and honour of playing together with them. The first season in A2 concluded with an extraordinary 6th place and the double challenge of a place in the play off with Fracasso San Dona, team playing in A1. Actually that year another tragedy struck the yellow blacks, the death of Dante Bacchi, giant forward, his passing away following long months in coma following a road accident. Paradoxically all the moments of happiness for the victories on the rugby pitch for Viadana seem linked to inexplicable tragedies. This type of type of change of direction can have as a side effect- that to unite the squad and the surrounding ambient as rugby in Viadana had already become the most popular and loved sport and it's reputation began to grow outside the county boundaries. The second year in A2 was also the year of demotion, not to take away the value of new foreigners Mark Benton and Brett Harvey from New Zealand. Viadana still remained a 'provincial' club, and there was a renewed need for additional resources to become a fixture in the national frame. To coach the team for the season of 89/90 in Div.B Paolo Pavesi was recalled. His was to be a short experience however, only a year, and in the meantime the club, under the new presidency of Fabrizio Nolli gave birth to a short term project to take the club up again to Division A. << From 1970 to 1979 | From 1990 to 2000 >>