Bocconi Beats Columbia to Win Rugby Tournament

The US university represented with two teams, over 40 players, 3 technicians, and the managers, but in the end they were forced to surrender. The first edition of the International Rugby Challenge, which pitted two teams from Columbia University in New York, LUIC Castellanza and Bocconi against each other, was actually won by the Bocconi team, who crushed Columbia A 31-17 in the finals on the Rugby Lainate, thanks to the kicks, drop and goals of Riccardo Coghe, Stefano De Masi and Michele Fontolan.

This was an unexpected win in several ways, due to the decisive win by the American team against LIUC in the semifinals with a score of 53-5, with Bocconi answered by beating Columbia's B team 36 to 10.

"The Americans play a physical game of rugby," explains the Bocconi team captain, Stefano De Mati, "since many of the players started out playing American football. The team is both fast and organized, partly because one of the coaches used to play for the nationals in the US."

The event, organized by the Bocconi Sport Team, was also an opportunity to forge important relationships between players, both athletically and personally, resulting in an agreement to meet again. "During the traditional 'third half' party at a pub on the Navigli we got to talk about rugby," says De Masi, "and about the next edition of the tournament, which the Americans would like to host in New York."

The challenge was accepted. Winning on US ground is the Bocconi Rugby team's next goal.

The Bocconi Rugby team: Mattia Bedocchi, Lorenzo Bonera, Andrea Chiarva, Francesco Cianfrone, Riccardo Coghe, Daniele D'Auria, Christian De Angelis, Stefano De Masi (Capitano), Aldo De Mozzi, Davide Del Majno Polillo, Andrea Della Rocca, Michele Di Blasio, Pietro Faccioni, Gianmaria Favaloro, Michele Fontolan, Giacomo Ignelzi, Marco Imparato, Aurelio Lodetti, Fabrizio Malinconico, Andrea Perlini, Alberto Pettinato, Fabio Pingue, Alessandro Roccia, Bruno Schiappacasse, Giuseppe Volpato.

The Bocconi Team