London, March 7, 2025 – On the eve of the highly anticipated England-Italy Six Nations clash that was set to take place at Twickenham on March 9th, the Italian Embassy in London hosted the event “Italian Rugby Day – The Passion of Rugby, the Taste of Italy” on March 7th. Organized in collaboration with the Italian Trade Agency (ICE), the Italian Rugby Federation (FIR), Veronafiere – Vinitaly, and the Rugby Museum of Artena (RM), this event served as a platform for sports diplomacy, celebrating the values of inclusion, respect, and sporting discipline, while also showcasing Made in Italy and Italy’s food and wine sector. Additionally, the event supported Italy’s bid to have its cuisine recognized as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.
This was a grand celebration of a noble sport and an outstanding sector of Made in Italy. “As Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Antonio Tajani had emphasized, sports diplomacy was a fundamental tool of Italy’s foreign policy, capable of contributing to economic growth and the internationalization of Italian businesses,” stated Ambassador Inigo Lambertini.
The evening began with official greetings from Ambassador Lambertini, followed by speeches from FIR President Andrea Duodo and Mauro Bergamasco, former rugby player and star of the Italian national team. Afterwards, Vinitaly engaged guests in an interactive game to test their knowledge of rugby, wine, and Italian cuisine, offering an educational and entertaining experience that highlighted the connection between sports and Italy’s culinary heritage.
“Sports was an incredibly powerful tool to unite countries and cultures, as well as a major driver for promoting and enhancing a nation’s identity,” said FIR President Andrea Duodo. “I would like to thank His Excellency, the Italian Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Inigo Lambertini, for welcoming us to our prestigious diplomatic headquarters in London. We were proud to continue showcasing Italy’s excellence across all sectors, working together with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty, and Forestry, as well as ICE.”
Thanks to the valuable contributions of sponsors Carnevale, Farchioni, Fiorucci, Mastri Birrai Umbri, Nestlé, Pasta Evangelists, San Salvatore, Seasonitalye, and Vinlist, guests had the opportunity to taste high-quality Italian food and wine products.
The Embassy also hosted an exhibition of historical memorabilia from the “Mud and Sweat” Rugby Museum in Artena (Rome), taking visitors on a journey through the history of rugby, with a special focus on Italian rugby traditions.
For further information: stampa.amblondra@esteri.it
