Venezia Mestre Rugby FC, also known as ''Casinò di Venezia'' for sponsorship's reasons, was an Italian rugby union club based in
Venice
Venice ( ; it, Venezia ; vec, Venesia or ) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto region. It is built on a group of 118 small islands that are separated by canals and linked by over 400 bridges. The isla ...
in
Veneto
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They were formed in 1986 following the merger of two clubs: ''Venezia Rugby Football Club'' (founded 1948) and ''Rugby Mestre'' (founded 1965).
In 1993-1994 they finished first but were denied promotion to Serie B because of a regulation requiring an under 14 team was not met.
Promotion to Serie B finally came in 1999-2000, two years later they took part in Serie A.
In 2004-2005 they were again promoted to the
Super 10
The Super 10 was a rugby union football tournament featuring ten teams from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Tonga, and Western Samoa. The competition ran for three years from 1993 to 1995 and was the predecessor of Super 12 and Super 14, ...
, the top tier of Italian rugby union.
Financial problems led the club to bankruptcy and eventual disband in 2011.
Italian rugby union teams
Rugby clubs established in 1986
Sports clubs disestablished in 2011
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