Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy

The Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy - also known simply as the Garibaldi Trophy, Trofeo Garibaldi in Italian and Trophée Garibaldi in French - is a rugby union trophy awarded to the winner of the annual Six Nations Championship match between France and Italy.

The trophy, designed by former French international and professional sculptor Jean-Pierre Rives, was awarded for the first time on 3 February, 2007 to France as part of the celebrations of the bicentenary of Giuseppe Garibaldi's birth.

Giuseppe Garibaldi

"Main article: Giuseppe Garibaldi"

Giuseppe Garibaldi was an Italian revolutionary born in 1807 in Nice. One of the fathers of unified Italy, he was also a general in the French Army during the Franco-Prussian war in 1870.

As part of the celebrations of the bicentenary of Garibaldi's birth it was decided by the Fédération Française de Rugby and the Federazione Italiana Rugby to create a trophy in his honour and have it awarded to the winner of the annual 6 Nations Championship's game between France and Italy.

Trophy

Idea

The original idea of a trophy to be awarded to the winner of annual game between France and Italy, was first mooted in Nice by the International committee for the celebration of the bicentennial of Garibaldi's birth.

This was thought to be the perfect way to symbolise the close ties between the two countries. In fact, from an historical point of view, Garibaldi was born in Nizza in 1807 (a city that became subsequently French with the current name of Nice in 1860) and he fought for Italy and, during the Franco-Prussian War, for France. Also from a rugby union point of view historically the sport in Italy has been in the past heavily influenced by the French.

The idea was brought to the attention of both the French and Italian rugby federations, quickly gathered momentum and was approved on December 6th, 2006 by the International Rugby Board.

Design

Designed by former international and full time sculptor Jean-Pierre Rives the trophy was unveiled on Friday 2nd of February, 2007; during a ceremony at the French embassy in Rome. The trophy's godfathers are former international players Diego Dominguez for Italy and Jean-François Tordo (who was born in Nice) for France.

Results

Trivia

*Because they do not represent Home Nations, France and Italy are the only two teams in the 6 nations that cannot win the Triple Crown. They are, however, the only two teams that can win the Garibaldi trophy.

See also

* France national rugby union team
* Italy national rugby union team
* Millennium Trophy
* Calcutta Cup
* Six Nations

External links

* [http://www.ffr.fr www.ffr.fr] - Fédération Française de Rugby
* [http://www.federugby.it www.federugby.it] - Federazione Italiana Rugby
* [http://www.6nations.net www.6nations.net] - 6 Nations official website