u/Luganegaclassica

My colleague wants to go to England to watch England v Italy next year, but not really being a massive rugby fan, he doesn't want to shell out hundreds for a Twickenham ticket, so I suggested we go to Bath (hypothetically) for the u20s. I went when I was young to Bath & Newbury with my local club, but do these tickets get general release? Or are they only available via clubs like the seniors tickets are? Cheers x

FIR social media admin, we see what your doing

Prem semifinal Exeter v Bath free streaming on YouTube in Italy

Final of the Italian 2nd division, winner will be promoted to SAE next year.

!!!! LONG POST ALERT !!!!

Thread to speculate over who goes on tour with Italy this Summer.

Premise: 26/27 will be a long season leading into the world cup. This summer I think it'll be necessary to rest some players and test some new ones.

Tl;dr:

Fischetti/Aminu/Hasa/Riccioni/Zilocchi

Lucchesi/Di Bartolomeo/Gasperini

Ruzza/Canali/Ortombina/Favretto/Marini

Vintcent/Lamaro/Odiase/Stavile/Ferrari/Locatelli

Fusco/Page-Relo/Casilio

Garbisi/Allan/Smith

Mori/Odogwu/Bertaccini/Marin/Zanon

Belloni/Gallagher/Trulla/Lynagh/Montemauri

Please tell me who I've forgotten, if I'm making too big of a deal of minutes played, or why I'm a blithering fool for picking X over Y. I'm not a coach, analyst, or expert, just a passionate fan like you.

Props

Fischetti/Aminu/Hasa/Riccioni/Zilocchi

In: Aminu

Out: Ferrari (Injury)

Maybe: Spagnolo, Nemer, Ceccarelli, Gallorini

Unfortunately two of the strongest Props in the Italy squad, Ferrari & Spagnolo, both got injured during the 6N, and haven't played since. Fischetti deserves rest, but with the injury situation and lack of depth I think he'll be needed. I'm not sure how long Spagnolo will be out, he may be available for the summer, but Ferrari had to undergo surgery on his neck and will be unavailable. As such two spaces open up, one at LH, one at TH. For LH I think this summer could be a good opportunity for Aminu to get into the Italy squad. He's been solid for Benetton this year, and played well in the Italy XV matches so think he's earned the spot. Alternatives could be Nemer or Franceschetto. At TH I've gone for Riccioni and Zilocchi. Both already well intergrated into the Italy setup. Riccioni has been unlucky with injuries both last summer in the game v Namibia and then immediately preceeding the start of this 6N. With Ferrari injured, this summer is his chance to stake a claim to the number 3 shirt. Zilocchi doesn't excite me particularly, but he's already well integrated with the Italy setup. Alternatives at TH could be Ceccarelli, who has been out of the Italy squad since autumn '24, but has been having a good season at Perpignan, or Gallorini, who played for Italy XV and Benetton alongside Aminu this season. Ceccarelli would probably deserve a call up based on form, but at 34 I'm not sure the staff want to invest more time into him v a younger Propspect (pun intended). Hasa solid on both sides of the scrum there as a 'swing' prop.

Hooker

Lucchesi/Di Bartolomeo/Gasperini

In: Lucchesi, Gasperini

Out: Nicotera (Rest), Zarantonello (Injury)

Maybe: Quattrini, Dimcheff

Nicotera is already on 1400' minutes this season. I'd leave him to rest and take a fit Lucchesi and Di Bartolomeo instead. Gasperini is having a good first season at Benetton, and I'd be happy to see him called up to the national team. Quattrini at Zebre also a contender, but so far I see Gasperini a step closer.

Locks

Ruzza/Canali/Ortombina/Favretto/Marini

In: Ortombina, Marini, Canali

Out: Cannone (Rest), Zambonin (Rest), Lamb (Retired), Iachizzi (Injury)

Maybe: Medina, Krumov

Cannone & Zambonin are on ~1500 & ~1800 minutes already this season. I'm worried about us being too dependent on them, and them getting injuries. Ruzza has had his minutes controlled well this season, and is still very capable of taking the reigns for Italy at the lineout. Canali is a big lump of a lock, 2 metres tall and 125kg, but with hands and offloads that could make a back blush. Favretto and Ortombina are both players capable of playing both 2nd and 3rd row, but with the lack of depth we're currently facing I see them being more useful at lock than at back row for this tour. Favretto continues to prove himself invaluable every week for Benetton, whilst Ortombina has been a revelation at Zebre. He had a slow start as he got used to the URC, but once up to speed has shown immense defensive grit and I think he deserves a call up. Marini has quietly impressed this season, already near 20 appearances with Benetton, and the two Italia XV matches in the spring. By bringing Marini, we could have more flexibility with Favretto and Ortombina covering back row, and maybe then leave one of the more tired back rows at home this summer.

Back Row

Vintcent/Lamaro/Odiase/Stavile/Ferrari/Locatelli

In: Vintcent

Out: Negri (Injury), Zuliani (Injury)

Maybe: Casartelli, Izekor, Cannone.L, Locatelli, Ferrari, Stavile

Possibly the most complicated position right now. The experienced players are all either injured (Negri, Zuliani) or have notable minutes (Lamaro~1500, Cannone.L~1450). Personally I'd like to see either Lamaro or Cannone stay at home this summer. Lamaro missed the last tour so probably fair to let Cannone sit this one out. Vintcent is looking good at Exeter, and has a lower number of minutes due to having been injured from November to March. The Zebre players have had their minutes managed well, and Odiase I think is a no brainer. He's been a fantastic addition to the Zebre sqaud this year, and since making his Italy debut v the Boks last summer has been in the squad ever since. This is 3 of the customary 6 back row positions filled, I'd be happy to take just 5 if we're also taking 5 locks including a couple who are also back row players. Things get harder from here. Stavile, if not now then never. He's played fantastically for Zebre for a couple seasons and deserves a call up, the fact it's not happened yet, not even for the Italia XV games makes me wonder if behind the scenes he's still hoping for an Argentina call. At 29 this maybe his last chance at international rugby. Ferrari, Locatelli and Izekor have all been much of a muchness to my eye this season. Locatelli showed good form in the first half of the season and earned a call up to the 6N squad, but then didn't get any game time. Outside chance for Casartelli, who's not u20 eligible this summer. He's played a couple matches with Benetton this season, but is playing regularly in SAE, a level below the other candidates.

Scrum Half

Fusco/Page-Relo/Casilio

In: Page-Relo

Out: Garbisi.A, Varney (Rest)

Maybe: Citton, Tizzano, Casilio, Dominguez, Jelic

I know this may well be madness to alot of people here but I want Varney to rest. He's undoubtably the most in form of all our options at 9 right now, and we've had to do without him during the 6N. The problem is, despite missing all of the 6N, he's currently sitting on ~1650 minutes, and the season isn't over yet. This is somewhat mitigated by having not played much last year, but being based in England, we have no control over his minutes and I'd prefer we perform some preventative maintenance by giving him the summer off. Fusco is the only certainty, Page-Relo having just got back from injury himself. I suspect Page-Relo will show his worth though during the next run off games at Bordeaux. Garbisi, unfortunately, hasn't shined this season, and I'd be tempted to give a chance to one of the young up and comers. Citton from Petrarca played well in the XV games, and will be at Zebre next season. Tizzano is coming through from Mogliano and has made a couple senior appearances with Benetton, including scoring a Try v Sharks, but International is almost certainly a level too high for him right now. Dominguez is the one who has the most current and consistent high level rugby experience, and spent a week with the Italy team during the 6N. Personally I think Casilio is the best of all these options, he played with the XV in the spring, he consistently impresses me if I catch a Valorugby match, and I think it's a great shame he left Zebre to then sit in the stands at Benetton. Scrum-Half continues to be a problem for Italy, I suspect we will see Varney or Garbisi after all.

Fly-Half

Garbisi/Allan/Smith

In: Smith

Out: Da Re

Maybe: Brisighella, Montemauri

Jean Smith is coming to Benetton next year, but if his intention is to play for Italy, I see no reason why he can't be called up already this summer. Allan and Garbisi are both out of favour at their respective T14 clubs, but this does mean they are both fresh. Da Re and Montemauri both seem better at 15 than 10. Brisighella an outside chance but the chaos he caused v Chile would get more harshly punished v T1 opposition.

Centres

Mori/Odogwu/Bertaccini/Marin/Zanon

In: Mori, Zanon

Out: Brex (Rest), Menoncello (Rest)

Maybe: Mazza

Brex is on over 1800 minutes this season, but also EVERY season since 21/22. Menoncello will be in France next season too, lets hope he stays in form and doesn't miss a 2nd RWC. We will miss both of them v NZ, AUS & JPN, but we will miss them more if they break in the run up to RWC '27. Let's let Marin take the reigns this summer. Zanon to my eye has been unlucky to not be called up this year by Italy. Several times he's looked the best player on the pitch for Zebre. Mori fingers crossed can avoid injury until July, it's been far too long since we've seen him in blue. He's still only 25 and I think we need to get him back integrated into the Italy squad

Wings & Fullbacks

Belloni/Gallagher/Trulla/Lynagh/Montemauri

In: Trulla, Belloni, Gallagher, Montemauri

Out: Capuozzo (Injury), Pani (???)

Maybe: Gesi, Ioane

Whats happened to Pani? Sorry if I've missed some news somewhere, but he hasn't played again since 6N. Ioane I am a fan off and will defend in general, I think he was good in the 6N (except v Wales), but he does look to have lost a turn of speed, and at 31, we need to start bleeding some alternatives. Trulla has been imperious since his return from injury, scoring 5 Try's in 6 games (the game he didn't score in he only played 6 minutes). Gallagher is extremely solid under the high ball and defensively sound. He could be criticised for lacking some spark in attack, but this has been changing, him having set up 3 Trys in his last 2 matches for Benetton (2 for Lynagh v Bulls, 1 for Mendy v Leinster). Belloni and Montemauri have both at different times this season looked the best player on the pitch for Zebre. Belloni especially the last 2 matches in SA really impressed me. In many ways a similar player to Gallagher, but with the boot to deliver a 22/22 like v Pau (Mirko Belloni 50/22 : r/rugbyunion)