“Here in New Zealand I found America.”

It takes a lot of courage to leave Italy and go first to Australia and then to New Zealand for the love of rugby. That’s what Roberto Willie Colnago did six years ago, a rugby player from Lecco who grew up in Rovato’s nursery. “After a few moves, I settled in Wellington and am now coaching youth teams at a club in the capital,” he explains on Skype while on the other side of the world. Born in 1986, third dynasty streak, his athletic background is split between Old Leonesa, Villas and Ered Kolonou. But for Condor, Colnago, nicknamed Willie, owes practically everything. “I remain very attached to the environment, to Daniele Porino, and to the passion this club has always shown me,” he adds. For this reason, last summer Alberto Gandossi, Ruben Miffredi and Nihal Odin, three young players from Rovato, moved to New Zealand for three months to experience abroad and play under his supervision. “Having played for a long time in the New Zealand junior leagues, I dedicated myself to preparing the under-21 competition for Wellington FC – and here the level is very different from the Italian level,” he adds. But initially the experience was in Australia. “I knew very little about Kangaroo Land. So the challenge caught my interest immediately and in 2013 I left working and playing for two seasons with Margaret Rovers’ Groupers – he explains – our privacy? Out of the fifteen starting players on the field there were thirteen different nationalities ». Which begs the question: Would you recommend your experience to a young rugby player playing in Italy?” Definitely yes. Traveling in general is a great thing, doing more for rugby.” The word of someone who knows something about travel and travel. • © Reproduction Reserved