www.bangor-rugby.co.uk
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<BR>Italy’s exploits in the current Six Nations Internationals has been of great interest to the Bangor Rugby Club in North Wales .The reason being one of their former players, Roland De Marigny , made his international debut for The Azzurri when he came on as a replacement against the old enemy , England , in the opening match of the tournament.
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<BR>The following week he was chosen on merit to earn a starting spot as a full back against the French and he played with great credit .Italy’s next match was their historic victory against the Scots in Rome where Roland was selected in his favourite position of fly half and ended the match with a personal tally of 15 points after a memorable individual performance with his trusty boot .
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<BR>It was all so different though way back in the Autumn of 1995 when a young and raw De Marigny arrived in Bangor from his native , Durban , South Africa as a keen and eager 19 year old .Some of his duties at the club were to brush out the dressing rooms, mark the pitches , bar work and even cleaning the toilets . How times change.
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<BR>Whilst in Bangor he was the guest of Dan Thomas , the then rugby manager , and his family .
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<BR>He made a try scoring debut against Bryncoch on the 30th September 1995 and played a further eleven games for the club against :- Briton Ferry , Tylorstown , a friendly game against a select XV , Brecon , Banwen , Llangefni ( Cup match ) , Gwernyfed , Ystalyfera , Welshpool , Colwyn Bay and finally Crynant .In all he scored over 40 points during his stay .Roland also played for North Wales Under 21 against Gwent Under 21 scoring with a brace of penalties in a narrow 25-22 loss .
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<BR>In early January 1996 De Marigny returned to his homeland and quickly made a name for himself by making the Natal Under 21 squad . Ever since then his progress has been closely monitored by the club and everyone were delighted when he went on to play for the Northern Bulls ( now Blue Bulls ) and later for the Natal super 12 side and subsequently for the Leopards .Altogether he was capped 28 times for the Bulls and 11 by Natal . His most illustrious game was surely for his part in the famous Bulls victory against Martin Johnson’s 1997 British & Irish Lions when he shone in his side’s 35-30 win - the tourists’ only set-back in a non-test match throughout the whole tour .
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<BR>Indeed Roland has played with the creme a la creme of South African Rugby -big names such as Andre Joubert , Henry Honiball , Gary Teichmann , Robbie Kempson and Mark Andrews to name just a few , and Bangor can proudly display two shirts kindly donated by Roland in their display cabinet - Bulls Super 12 & Natal Sharks tops .Who knows they might add an Italian shirt to the collection.
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<BR>The year 2000 saw Roland venture to pastures new and try his luck in Italy where he now plays for the Parma club and qualifies to play for his new country after being there for the required three years or more .
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<BR>Bangor Rugby Club are proud to have played a small part in Roland’s now impressive CV
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<BR>Leeds Career :
<BR>Roland can cover full back, centre or fly half and will be a genuine addition to the squad given the problems of last year when Gordon Ross was selected for International duty.
<BR>Personal Details :
<BR>The full back, developed his rugby skills whilst at Westville Boys\' High – a school well known for producing such rugby talent as former Springbok Tim Cocks and Irish internatonal Shaun Payne. He is not the only member of his family to play rugby, his younger brother Mark plays for South Africa at Under 21 level and has also captained the Sevens team in the IRB event.
