Robert Sidoli
Encyclopedia
Robert Sidoli is a Welsh rugby union
player who plays for Newport Gwent Dragons
.
He has won 42 caps for Wales
as a lock forward. His brother Peter Sidoli
, a Wales Under-21 international, nationalised to play for their father's native Italy if selected.
He played for his school, Bishop Hedley High School
, and then club rugby for Merthyr
and Pontypridd
, being voted Pontypridd's Player of the Year in 2001–02, before joining the Celtic Warriors
when regional rugby was introduced in Wales in 2003. When the Warriors were wound up in 2004 he joined Cardiff Blues
.
Sidoli won his first cap for Wales as a replacement against South Africa
in 2002. After good performances in the 2003 Rugby World Cup
, he missed most of the 2004 Six Nations Championship
with a groin injury. He was in the starting lineup for all Wales' matches in the 2005 Six Nations, and scored his first international try against Italy
.
Sidoli joined Bristol Rugby
at the start of the 2008–09 Season. At the conclusion of the 2008–9 season, Sidoli left Bristol Rugby
after they were relegated, joining Newport Gwent Dragons
.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player who plays for Newport Gwent Dragons
Newport Gwent Dragons
Newport Gwent Dragons are one of the four professional Rugby Union regional teams in Wales. They are jointly owned by Newport RFC and the Welsh Rugby Union and play all their home games at Rodney Parade, Newport. They play in the RaboDirect Pro12, the Anglo-Welsh Cup and the Heineken Cup...
.
He has won 42 caps for Wales
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
as a lock forward. His brother Peter Sidoli
Peter Sidoli
Peter Sidoli is a Wales rugby union player. A lock forward, he played for Neath RFC and Ebbw Vale RFC before joining Newport Gwent Dragons. In 2008 he joined Italian club Rugby Calvisano...
, a Wales Under-21 international, nationalised to play for their father's native Italy if selected.
He played for his school, Bishop Hedley High School
Bishop hedley high school
Bishop Hedley High School is a Roman Catholic secondary school, established in 1967, and located in Penydarren, Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales. The vast majority of the pupils of the school stem from the Heads of the Valleys, serving parishes from Aberdare, Hirwaun, Merthyr Tydfil, Merthyr Vale,...
, and then club rugby for Merthyr
Merthyr RFC
Merthyr RFC is a Welsh rugby union club based in Merthyr in South Wales. Merthyr RFC are presently members of the Welsh Rugby Union playing in the Division One East League and are a feeder club for the Cardiff Blues..-Early history:...
and Pontypridd
Pontypridd RFC
Pontypridd Rugby Football Club, known as Ponty, are a rugby union team from Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, currently playing in the British and Irish Cup, Principality Premiership, and are the current SWALEC Cup champions....
, being voted Pontypridd's Player of the Year in 2001–02, before joining the Celtic Warriors
Celtic Warriors
The Celtic Warriors were a regional rugby union team from Wales, who played in the Celtic League and Heineken Cup between 2003 and 2004.-History:The Warriors were one of the five original regions of the Welsh Regional Rugby Era...
when regional rugby was introduced in Wales in 2003. When the Warriors were wound up in 2004 he joined Cardiff Blues
Cardiff Blues
Cardiff Blues are one of the four professional Welsh regional rugby union teams. Based in Cardiff, the capital of Wales, the team have played at Cardiff City Stadium since the start of the 2009/2010 season and are owned by Cardiff Rugby Football Club....
.
Sidoli won his first cap for Wales as a replacement against South Africa
South Africa national rugby union team
The South African national rugby union team are 2009 British and Irish Lions Series winners. They are currently ranked as the fourth best team in the IRB World Rankings and were named 2008 World Team of the Year at the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards.Although South Africa was instrumental...
in 2002. After good performances in the 2003 Rugby World Cup
2003 Rugby World Cup
The 2003 Rugby World Cup was the fifth Rugby World Cup and was won by England. Originally planned to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, all games were shifted to Australia following a contractual dispute over ground signage rights between the New Zealand Rugby Football Union and Rugby World...
, he missed most of the 2004 Six Nations Championship
Six Nations Championship
The Six Nations Championship is an annual international rugby union competition involving six European sides: England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....
with a groin injury. He was in the starting lineup for all Wales' matches in the 2005 Six Nations, and scored his first international try against Italy
Italy national rugby union team
The Italy national rugby union team represent the nation of Italy in the sport of rugby union. The team is also known as the Azzurri . Italy have been playing international rugby since the late 1920s, and since 2000 compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland,...
.
Sidoli joined Bristol Rugby
Bristol Rugby
Bristol Rugby is a rugby union club based in Bristol, England. The club currently plays in the RFU Championship and competes in the British and Irish Cup. They rely in large part on the many junior rugby clubs in the region, particularly those from 'the Combination'...
at the start of the 2008–09 Season. At the conclusion of the 2008–9 season, Sidoli left Bristol Rugby
Bristol Rugby
Bristol Rugby is a rugby union club based in Bristol, England. The club currently plays in the RFU Championship and competes in the British and Irish Cup. They rely in large part on the many junior rugby clubs in the region, particularly those from 'the Combination'...
after they were relegated, joining Newport Gwent Dragons
Newport Gwent Dragons
Newport Gwent Dragons are one of the four professional Rugby Union regional teams in Wales. They are jointly owned by Newport RFC and the Welsh Rugby Union and play all their home games at Rodney Parade, Newport. They play in the RaboDirect Pro12, the Anglo-Welsh Cup and the Heineken Cup...
.