Rugby in Rome, Stadio Flaminio

Football is Italy's sporting passion, but in recent years rugby has been carving out its own little niche.

The Six Nations tournament sees some high-profile international matches in Rome, and a flood of rugby-loving tourists. For a weekend Rome seems to be packed with Scots in kilts or with English rugby shirts. The atmosphere is jovial, and the outing is a big family event. Although few Italians know much about the game, the size of the stadium is the only thing preventing a much larger crowd of away fans.

Italy play their Six Nations matches at the Stadio Flaminio, which is also used for football matches. Not far from the larger Stadio Olimpico, the Flaminio stadium is easily reached from the centre of Rome. The nearest Metro station is Flaminio (Linea A). From here just head straight up the Via Flaminia. After about twenty minutes the stadium, with its distinctive curving sides, is visible on the right. If you'd rather not walk, take tram number two from Flaminio, opposite the gateway leading into Piazza del Popolo. The tram stops by the stadium.

Six Nations 2008

Rome fixtures 2008:
10th February - Italy vs England
15th March - Italy vs Scotland

Along the way you'll notice that enterprising Italians set up temporary bars near the stadium to cater for their visitors' baffling thirst. Although British-style public drinking is really not socially acceptable in Italy, you may find a certain degree of tolerance towards polite visiting rugby fans (kilted Scots go down particularly well in Rome, especially if they bring bagpipes). Visitors should always bear in mind that they're guests in Italy, and act accordingly. Of course this doesn't just go for rugby fans. Visiting Chelsea football fans couldn't understand the Italians' lack of response to their boozed-up chanting in town; they didn't realise that the locals were profoundly embarrassed for their uncouthness, and that aggro and cheering are best kept for the stadium.

If you're in Rome for a sporting weekend, it's worth considering joining many of your fellow fans and coming to a soccer game at the Stadio Olimpico for an extra dose of passion. On rugby weekends there are usually clusters of overseas fans at Lazio or Roma matches, warmly welcomed by the rest of the stadium (as mentioned before, bagpipes are exceptionally popular and we've seen the whole Olimpico applaud an enterprising and musical bunch of Scottish rugby enthusiasts).