7:11am, 27 January 2019

RugbyPass spent the week building up to the 2018/2019 PRO14 season, behind the scenes in Parma with Zebre Rugby Club, as they went head to head with local rivals Benetton Treviso in their final pre-season game.

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Through the eyes of players and coaches, we show a side to Zebre that has never been seen before, as they look to shake off their tags as perennial also-rans and become a more competitive team.

We follow the Michael Bradley coached side through their training week as they bid to earn the respect of some of Europe’s toughest opposition.

Can they beat Treviso on their rival’s home turf and give their pre-season the perfect ending and their season the perfect beginning?

Founded in 1973 by the former Italian national captain Marco Bollesan, Zebre was chosen, in 2012, by the Italian Rugby Federation to compete in the Pro12 after Aironi were disbanded. The name had been used by an invitational select rugby union team based in Northwest Italy that played regular fixtures between 1973 and 1997. In those 23 years, 25 matches were held against international clubs.