Six Nations: Wales Rugby Union denies ‘unpleasant’ treatment of Italy team

The Welsh Rugby Football Union has denied “unpleasant” treatment of the Italian team during Saturday’s Six Nations tie in Cardiff.

ItalyCaptain Michel Ramaro told La Gazzetta dello Sport that “there were some small, unpleasant situations that were not worthy of the host country’s dealings”.

He claimed Italy’s pre-match warm-up was cut short and his family was given seats with reduced visibility.

Sky News learned that the Italian team management rejected the opportunity to extend the warm-up match, and the tickets for the players’ families will be distributed to the visiting team.

Wales Wales’ 21-24 defeat to Italy on Saturday meant Wales took home the Six Nations Wooden Spoon for the first time since 2003.

But the CEO of WRU Abbie TierneyIt said the relationship between the two governing bodies “remains as respectful and positive as ever”.

Ms Tierney added that Italian Rugby Football Federation (IRF) president Marzio Innocenti “reiterated the praise he expressed to us on match day regarding the warm welcome he received”.

Innocenti said the relationship between the two countries “couldn’t be better” and that there is an “unbreakable bond” between the two countries.

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The WRU’s welcome, he said, “was one of the warmest and friendliest I can remember.”

“In the heat of the game, emotions and little things or behaviors can easily shift [into] It annoys players and makes their comments sound controversial when they are not,” he said.

The president of Italy’s governing body also said he proposed the creation of a trophy to be awarded annually to the winner of the Six Nations match between Wales and Italy.