Cooch's Six Nations Guide - Italy

Momma Mia!

Leading up to the 2010 Six Nations we are whistlestop tour round the stadiums and cities hosting the 2010 Six Nations and chatting to former British & Irish Lions and England prop, and Gullivers spokesperson, Gareth 'Cooch' Chilcott. Gareth knows a thing or two about rugby tours and regales us with his recommendations on where you should head for all the fun. Up next is the initimitable Stadio Flaminio in Rome...

2010 will see the Azzuri’s tenth season in the Six Nations, and they’re no longer the whipping boys they once were.

Rome is many people’s favourite tour on the Six Nations calendar, and for good reason. The city itself is steeped in thousands and thousands of years’ history, and much like a prop, the Italians love their food and know what they’re doing with it. A little tip about eating in Rome, don’t go to the big plush looking restaurants, the food is never as good and they’ll charge you a fortune, look for the run down shack that’s filled with locals. It’s probably one family and the cooking will be superb as it’s done from a recipe probably nearly as old as the Coliseum.

Anyway, back to the rugby. The Stadio Flaminio is old and small, which is superb. Gareth Chilcott, has been to the stadium several times and loves it: “It’s like the old class of Stadium, it’s really intimidating and you’re so close to the action you can hear the lineout calls, you can even hear the players panic when they’re under pressure it’s fantastic.”

After the game everyone congregates on the Spanish Steps in the heart of the city and parties the night away. Much like the French the Italians know how to throw a good party and the city comes alive on an international weekend.

Gullivers Sports Travel are offering three night tours for the Italy V England match that start at £565 which includes the flight, hotel and ticket to he game.

An ideal Valentines present I hear you say? Just tell the missus you are taking her to Rome for Valentines weekend and she'll be putty in your hands. Of course you might want to conveniently forget to mention a certain rugby match on the Sunday until you get there and have already plied her with the requisite shopping and wine etc...!

2010 Six Nations games in Italy
Italy v England - Sun 14th Feb 2010 15:30
Italy v Scotland - Sat 27th Feb 2010 14:30