Nelspruit Rugby Club first XV captain, Gary Visagie (29), will fly to Italy next week to join Rugby Reggio. The 2,03-metre lock has signed a 10-month contract with the National Championship of Excellence (Eccellenza) club. He will spend the entire 2016/17 season there.

Rugby Reggio is in the city of Reggio Emilia, 36 kilometres south-east of Parma, in northern Italy.

Another South African, lock forward Armand du Preez, is also on the club’s books. At 2,05 metres, Du Preez is one of the tallest locks in Italian club rugby.

According to Katia Spadini, press officer for Rugby Reggio, the club’s general manager, Roberto Manghi, was in South Africa in July with Du Preez’s father, Armand du Preez Sr (who played 85 times for Eastern Province, at lock), and met Visagie. “Visagie made a good impression on him. He put an offer to play for Rugby Reggio on the table. Discussions were held. Manghi was impressed by the man and the player,” she said on Wednesday.

“Gary is a experienced player and with his 2,03 metres he will be a tower of strength in the team,” said Manghi in a press release.

“I have a lot of expectations of Gary who has shown much interest in our project and wants to experience European rugby,” he stated.

Spadini confirmed that the club was looking for a big, tall, strong second-rower. The only other lock in the squad over two metres is Du Preez and Visagie’s height will be well utilised in the extremely tough and competitive National Championship of Excellence.

According to Visagie, the contract could be extended after the 10 months.

He will start training with the squad on August 17 and the opening match of the new season will be at home against title holders, Rovigo on September 1.

“Gary will live in Reggio Emilia in a flat that the club will arrange for him,” said Spadini. “He will also receive Italian lessons with the other South African  players (Du Preez and Stephan Zaayman).”

The 24-team Serie A is the second tier of professional rugby union in Italy. Rugby Reggio won the tournament last season and were promoted to the National Championship of Excellence, the top flight of Italian club rugby.

Eccellenza consists of 10 teams. After a home-and-away league stage, the top four teams play two-leg semi-finals, and the two aggregate winners the final.
Rugby Reggio will compete against Amatori San Donà, Calvisano, Fiamme Oro, Lyons Piacenza, Rugby Lazio, Mogliano, Petrarca Padova, Viadana, and defending champions, Rovigo Delta.

The club play home matches at the 1 000-seat capacity Impianto Sportivo Canalina or the 4 000-seat Stadio Mirabello.

Visagie’s father, Rudi “Vleis” Visagie (57), who played the fourth-most Currie Cup matches of all time, and five-cap Springbok, also played club rugby in Italy.
“I played for L’Aquila Rugby Club in 1985/86 and for Livorno Rugby Club in 1988/89,” said Vleis on Wednesday.

Rugby Reggio had a special message for Nelspruit Rugby Club. “We are honoured to have Gary in our squad and we hope that Nelspruit Rugby Club supporters will follow his career here and cheer for Rugby Reggio.”

“Our club is very close to South Africa’s people. Some months ago the South African ambassador, Nomatemba Tambo, came to visit. Our friendship with South Africa goes back 40 years. Brad McLeod-Henderson and (Mbombela-born, Hoërskool Nelspruit alumnus and four-cap Springbok) Nico Wegner have played here,” stated Spadini.