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From Our Own Correspondent: Nepotism in Italy and France’s rugby shrine

Nepotism in Italy and France’s rugby shrine

22/02/2013

BBC World Service - From Our Own Correspondent, Nepotism in Italy and France’s rugby shrine

Stories on nepotism in Italian universities and a church in France devoted to rugby.

Correspondents with the stories behind the news. In this edition, nepotism in Italian universities and a church in France devoted to the sport of rugby.

In the world of Italian universities, it’s not what you know, it’s who you know. More than half of all academics at Palemro’s State University have at least one relative working at the school. Entire family networks – brothers, nephews, wives and girlfriends - dominate the departments of law, medicine and agriculture. But it’s not a problem limited to Palermo, or to the world of academia. Ed Butler has been investigating the difficult issue of nepotism in Italy.

Plus, as the French rugby team prepares to meet England in Europe’s Six Nations rugby tournament this weekend, the faith of French fans is waning. They have lost both of their games so far in the round-robin competition, and their chances of coming out on top of the championship are not looking good. Chris Bockman has been to the rugby-mad southwest corner of the country and a special church which might provide some higher power for the players on the pitch: Our Lady of Rugby. 

Presenter: Pascale Harter
Producer: Mike Wendling

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