The 43-year-old will be technical manager and coach, already a lot of experience in Italy: “There is an environment that wants to grow, I accepted with enthusiasm”
IVREA
The South African Chris De Meyer will cover, for the next three seasons, the role of Technical Director and coach of Ivrea rugby club, an Ivrea club that plays in the national series championship
Born and raised in rugby in South Africa but for over ten years on a permanent basis in Italy. Chris De Meyer in Piedmont covered the role of player and coach in Asti and of Technical and Development Director at VII Turin: “I got to know Chris and his family – comments the president of the Ivrea association Franco Rosso – I discovered a person kind, helpful and very clear ideas. It is certain that our senior training together and, above all, all the teams in the youth sector (to which Chris has dedicated himself for years), are certainly in good hands, youth teams, on which we always place great attention ” .
The new Sporting Director Alessandro Ghitalla shares the same opinion: «It all happened by chance but immediately there was the right understanding to find a common agreement, a pleasant surprise that I really didn’t expect. These days we are hard at work trying to train a well-rounded staff around Chris, we are and I am convinced that we have made the right choice ». Wim Visser, former player of the Italian national team, says of Chris De Meyer: «He has exceptional ways of communicating with his players as well as an incredible ability to earn everyone’s respect. His knowledge of the rules and regulations of the game is excellent, he is always involved in all training sessions where the presentations and explanations are impeccable. I would recommend a person and a coach of Chris’ caliber to any club ». The newly married Ivrea coach and father of four children was born in Germiston, Johannesburg, South Africa, on 9 September 1976, he played and trained in his native land before arriving in Italy where he played for a few seasons in the Serie A before pursue a career as a coach. «I found an environment in Ivrea – says De Meyer – that wants to grow, this has certainly led me to accept this new adventure. The group is united and I immediately understood that it has great ambitions but above all it wants and is determined to follow me, we have a common project with clear intentions to hit the set goals ». His assistant, in the role of coach, will be Dario Zamolo, from a lifetime in the world of the oval ball. He began his career in 1993 with the Ivrea shirt, where he played until 2010 before moving to Biella, also protagonist of the promotion to Serie A, in 2020 he returned to the banks of the Dora to help the team in the first year of Serie B: «I am very excited for this new adventure – says Zamolo – I see a young and motivated group. It will be a pleasure for me to work alongside coach De Meyer and collaborate with him in this new exciting adventure ». –
Massimo Sardo