Today at a press conference in Rome, the Federazione Italiana Rugby (FIR) put pen to paper on a three year partnership that will see Sportradar Security Service provide both its Fraud Detection System and its Fraud Prevention Services to the top league in Italy (the Eccellenza) and the ten clubs that contest it.

The Fraud Detection System will monitor 450 betting operators from Europe and beyond to flag and analyse any unorthodox betting patterns and behaviours. The Fraud Prevention Services portion of the partnership will ensure that all ten clubs of the Eccellenza send their players, coaches and managers through the fully tailored workshop, which will be led by Sportradar’s Integrity Executive in Italy, Marcello Presilla.

The partnership is a three year long agreement and the first workshop was delivered today to the club linked to the Italian police, Fiamme Oro.

“Every year Italian rugby is making progress. Last year we came fifth in the Six Nations and this year we gave a good account of ourselves in the Rugby World Cup. The game is growing here and we love the passion of our fans who travel and support their teams across Italy and Europe. But growing the sport also means taking care of its roots and its foundations and one of those foundations is its integrity; its honesty. This partnership with the company that supports all the main rugby leagues and federations in their defence against match manipulation is a commitment. It is a commitment from us to our players, coaches, officials, fans, sponsors and broadcasters that we will cut no corners when it comes to keeping the game we love honest. Italian rugby can and will continue to grow, knowing that its foundations are secure and protected” said FIR President Alfredo Gavazzi.