Zebre may be competing in the top tier of European club rugby this season but even if they beat Connacht this weekend to record their first victory in the Champions Cup, their heroics will go largely unnoticed in their home town of Parma.

ON the face of it, there is little reason for optimism about English or Irish football after last week’s internationals.

Juventus head coach Antonio Conte has won the Golden Bench award after being recognised as the Serie A coach of the 2011-12 season.

Italian fourth division side Pro Patria have been ordered to play one match behind closed doors as punishment for the alleged racist chanting which prompted AC Milan’s Kevin-Prince Boateng to lead a player walk-off last week.

Serie A title hopefuls Napoli will be deducted two points after defenders Paolo Cannavaro and Gianluca Grava were handed six-month bans for failing to report match-fixing, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has confirmed.