Amatori Capoterra: the fiftieth anniversary season kicks off

Subtitle: The 2026/27 sports season has been presented, along with the first team to face Group 5 of the Serie B National Championship. It begins on Sunday, October 18, with the away match against Fiamme Oro.
Fifty years of history, from 1976 to today, and a single passion: rugby. In their 50th anniversary year, Amatori Rugby Capoterra officially presented the 2026/27 season and, specifically, the first team to compete in the Serie B National Championship, which kicks off on Sunday, October 18th.
On Saturday, for Open Day 2026, the Giallorossi gathered with their fans for a day of sport and fun, open to children, teenagers, families, and anyone wanting to experience the world of rugby for the first time.
The camp came to life in the afternoon with Rugby Tots, a basic motor activity for the youngest players, aged 2 to 5. This was followed by activities for all age groups, from Under 6 to Under 18. At 7:00 PM, the official season presentation began, streamed live on Directa Sport's YouTube channel. The ceremony opened with greetings from President Andrea Cogoni and City Councilor for Sport Giovanni Montis. Then came the President of the Sardinian Regional Committee, Gianni Atzori, who also conveyed greetings from the Italian Rugby Federation. It was then the turn of the new Sporting Director, Gabriele Ambus, who outlined the 2026/27 project. The baton was then passed to Youth Sector Manager Franco Atzori, who presented the Giallorossi youth academy.
The Paralympic section also received ample space, presented by Nicola Marcello and represented by several athletes, including Alessandro Cicu, two-time Italian champion at the Italian Paralympic Athletics Championships. The cadet team was presented by coach Mario Gutierrez.
Finally, the most anticipated moment: the first team. After head coach Marcello Garau's remarks, all the players marched before the crowd, led by captains Lorenzo Celembrini and Mattia Aru. The evening was made even more special by the participation of Shardana Old Rugby Capoterra, bringing together the past, present, and future of Amatori Capoterra and celebrating half a century of history. As is tradition, the evening concluded with a halftime performance and a DJ set.
The Serie B championship kicks off on Sunday, October 18th. The new season will see Capoterra drawn into Group 5, which includes teams from Lazio and Abruzzo. Their debut will be away against Fiamme Oro, one of the strongest teams in the group: an important test immediately to gauge the Giallorossi's ambitions.
Amatori president Andrea Cogoni states: "The emotions are many and conflicting, and one above all is that of bringing home the results. I'd like to take a small step back to 1976, the year in which Rugby Capoterra, after four years of inactivity, began its restart. There was a pitch without a blade of grass and between one goal and the other there was a difference in height of at least a meter and a half. But the shape of the ball was the same, and probably the magic and the desire to play were too. There were much fewer people than now, but the fact that we are so numerous today, from children to adults, makes me understand that the steps we have taken are the right ones. Probably those men who began this adventure in 1976 would never have imagined that 50 years later we would have what we see today. Capoterra, as we have seen, starts from 2-year-olds and reaches the Under 18s, the seniors who play in the regional Serie C and the first team in the national Serie B. For a few years now we have... We've also embraced Paralympic sport, with wheelchair rugby players playing in the national Serie A championship. For us, it's the culmination of all our efforts and what gives us the greatest satisfaction."
Sporting director Gabriele Ambus adds: "The goal is to build on last year's results. We finished third, just shy of a possible promotion, and we want to build on that. I'm convinced that last year's solid group is strongly interested in aiming exclusively for a higher position. We have some new arrivals: we've tried to enhance the quality of the team, and we're convinced that Ferreira, Torres, and Piazzalunga can give us a significant boost. We're aiming for something bigger, even if I don't want to say it officially, because 50 years is 50 years: the club is big, there are so many people who support us, so many children who live on the pitch, and we want to give them something important. We need the support of our fans, who are strong and close, and above all, we need the kids to commit and train hard."
Head coach Marcello Garau commented: "This year I have an important task, entrusted to me by the club, and I feel a tremendous responsibility. We'll be playing in the new Lazio-Abruzzo group, which we're unfamiliar with, but we'll approach with maximum concentration. The team is strong and healthy. As Gabriele said, we've confirmed everyone: we know each other and we know our potential. We started preparations in July with the home team, and in September the entire squad joined us. We're already pumped for the start of the championship."