Varo Controversy

The Varo Controversy was a rugby union scandal involving the Italian national side whilst playing Scotland in the 6 Nations 2018 on 17/2/18. It was so called because Lucius Oppius Varo was long retied and not registered to play for Italy. Despite this he was subbed on for Vincenzo Velite, to the great upset of the Scottish national side.

The tactical switch was deemed unsporting, and calls were made to strengthen player registration before matches. The scandal overshadowed an even more vile act, with the Aguilar Brothers, who are Portuguese, came on for other Italian players.

The Evening Rot has described this as the biggest scandal to hit rugby union since professionalisation in the 1990s.