No pressure as Ireland head for Rome showpiece

Ireland’s show jumping team manager Rodrigo Pessoa brings a five-member squad to Rome for this week’s Italian Nations Cup, but will not face the same pressure he experienced last week in France.

Unlike the French fixture, this week’s contest is not part of the nations cup league, the Italians having absented their home fixture from the series since last year, when Longines took over as leagues sponsors and the hosts had their own ideas on what was best for their annual showpiece.