The thrill is the same as it was 20 years ago with the extraordinary winning début against the then-outgoing champions from Scotland. And it is the enthusiasm of the fans that will carry Italy's national rugby team in this ninth edition of the Guinness Six Nations Championship, officially presented Monday the 20th at the Italian National Olympic Commission’s Salone d’Onore hall in Rome, with Commission President Giovanni Malagò and Rome’s Mayor Virginia Raggi in attendance. “In recent years our sport has undergone profound change, on the pitch and off,” stated Italian Rugby Federation President Alfredo Gavazzi, “yet Six Nations retains its appeal, as experienced and loved by those of my generation. This can be seen from the increasing enthusiasm shown by the fans and this tournament’s constant ability to fuel debate on social media. For this I would like to thank our sponsors who have supported us closely in this adventure, starting with our main sponsor, Cattolica Assicurazioni, which made our projects its own, contributing to helping our movement grow through its dedication.” Growth also emphasised by Cattolica Assicurazioni’s Marketing Director Francesco Minelli: “This Six Nations Championship represents an opportunity to get families and young people even more interested in the world of rugby, which in recent years has seen a significant increase in the number of enthusiasts and fans. And to celebrate the important anniversary of Italy's victorious début against Scotland, Cattolica wanted to reward rugby fans with a double gift. Fans who bring tickets to home matches against Scotland or England to a Cattolica agency will enjoy access to a special promotion on the new Active Casa&Persona product. We are also poised to sign a specific agreement with the Federation focused on the over 100,000 Italian Rugby Federation members to offer them a special deal.” The date is set for next 22 February at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, where Coach Franco Smith’s team will battle it out against Gregor Townsend's Scottish squad.