The Italian Zebre minnows have officially changed their name

Italian franchise URC Zebre has announced a name change, revealing that it will now compete in its revamped 16-team league that was previously PRO14, and in the European Challenge Cup, as Zebre Parma in the hope of strengthening the appeal of their local town.

It was in 2012 when Zebre, the subject of a behind-the-scenes documentary filmed by RugbyPass a few years ago, were first created as a result of the abortive two-year lifespan of Aironi, who, along with Treviso, was the team proposed by the Italian Rugby Federation to join the Celtic League in 2010.

With the city regularly hosting teams from Ireland, Scotland, Wales and now South Africa, Zebre decided to make his club more easily identifiable by adding Parma to its name.

What happened when RugbyPass went backstage at Zebre

What happened when RugbyPass went backstage at Zebre

A statement regarding the name change reads: “The decision to change the club’s name for competition purposes has important symbolic and strategic value as with this initiative Zebre Parma intends to further strengthen its ties with the city of Parma as well as with the region. which has hosted the Italian national team since 2012.

“Zebre has already proudly displayed the ‘Parma UNSECO City of Gastronomy’ logo on its match day kit. Now, a novelty this year, in addition to the logo of “Parma Capitale Italiana della Cultura 2021/22” on the Macron brand kits will be the decision to promote the name Zebre Parma in the official communications of the United Rugby Championship and the Coupe d ‘Europe Challenge.

New name for @ZebreRugby as they kiss Parma?

Who will visit the city on a #ChallengeCupRugby day of absence this season? ????????#ZebraParme https://t.co/bajCwC2TjE

– EPCR Challenge Cup (@ERChallengeCup) October 14, 2021

Club president Michele Dalai explained: “In April, we started a process of rapprochement with the city, its institutions and its inhabitants who see our new name, Zebre Parma, as an important step.

“In a tournament like the EPCR Challenge Cup, it is essential to have an identity and this identity can be easily linked to a context, to a specific physical location. Parma is the city where we play, where our players live and which we are proud to represent in Europe and the world.

“PRO14 rugby has been a lot more exciting than Premiership rugby for years.”

– Michael Bradley talks about Prem v PRO14 with @heagneyl ???https://t.co/iTlvoOlb8y

– RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 29, 2019