Bisonti Rugby, the team born in prison that hopes to return

Established in 2011 within the Frosinone prison, it allowed inmates to play in Serie C until 2017. Following an escape attempt, however, activities were suspended, but the team continued to play outside with the aim of returning the shirts to the Frosinone boys as soon as possible.

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RUGBY IN PRISONS

Support for your teammates and teamwork, but also respect for the rules , your opponent, and the referee. These are some of the core values ​​of Rugby , a noble sport that, more than any other, can shape the individual as well as the athlete. For this reason, it's no surprise that there are more and more projects to bring the oval ball into prisons to reintegrate inmates into society. Among the first experiments of this kind is the one that led to the creation of Bisonti Rugby . A team, established within the Frosinone prison , which for six years was able to involve, for the first time in Italy, those sentenced to long sentences or confined to maximum security.

Bison Rugby Team Frosinone Prison

Bisonti Rugby was founded in 2011 and from 2013 to 2017 played their Serie C championship matches inside the Frosinone prison. This remarkable achievement was achieved thanks to the commitment of, among others, the president of the " Gruppo Idee " association and president of the Bisonti, Germana De Angelis . Following an escape attempt in March 2017, however, the team had to evolve to survive. The event forced the Frosinone prison to cease all external activities to allow the management to conduct an investigation. But the volunteers did not give up, and to keep the project alive, they reconstituted the team with external players who, with the approval of the Italian Rugby Federation (FIR), now play in the Serie C2 championship on the Tor Bella Monaca pitch. The goal is to keep the Frosinone boys' shirts until they are authorized to play again in that prison.

READ ALSO: In Genoa prison, a world champion taught inmates to play chess.

RUGBY IN PRISONS

While waiting for the Bisonti to return to training and playing in the prison, the team welcomes former inmates, such as Precious Orobor , who, upon his release, returned to wear the captain's armband. Furthermore, coach Stefano Scarsella has begun teaching rugby to a group of common inmates in Rebibbia prison . Some of them, eligible for benefits and therefore able to play outside, will soon be able to join the team.

SPORT IN PRISON

The project is recognized by the FIR and CONI (Italian National Olympic Committee) and is founded on the belief that rugby is a true school of life, capable of reintroducing those who practice it to healthy values ​​and respect for the rules. Over the years the program has been conducted within the Frosinone prison, as many as 50 inmates, convicted of serious crimes such as robbery, murder, and criminal conspiracy, have engaged in serious tackling and scrums, achieving excellent results, not only in athletic terms. Practicing this sport in such challenging environments, the promoters explain, encourages those who decide to take part to rediscover values ​​such as loyalty, the desire to improve, accepting defeat, and teamwork. These are fundamental principles for future reintegration into society.

The cover photo is taken from the Bisonti Rugby Frosinone Facebook page.

The project is competing for the 2019 edition of the Non Sprecare Award. To learn more about the competition and participate, go here!

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