2025 Italy rugby union tour of Namibia and South Africa

Last updated
2025 Italy rugby union tour of Namibia and South Africa
Date27 June – 12 July 2025
Coach(es) Gonzalo Quesada
Tour captain(s) Giacomo Nicotera, Niccolò Cannone
Top test point scorer(s) Giacomo Da Re (21)
Top test try scorer(s) Jacopo Trulla (3)
Summary
PWDL
Test match
3102
Opponent
PWDL
Flag of Namibia.svg  Namibia
1 1 0 0
Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
2 0 0 2
Tour chronology
Previous tour Pacific and Japan 2024

In July 2025, the Italy national rugby union team toured South Africa as part of the Summer International calendar. The two-test tour was confirmed in October 2024, [1] [2] with a match against Namibia being included on the tour. [3] [4]

Contents

It was Italy's third tour of South Africa, and the first time both teams have played each other at Loftus Versfeld Stadium and Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. [5]

Fixtures

DateVenueHomeScoreAway
27 June 2025 Hage Geingob Rugby Stadium, Windhoek Namibia  Flag of Namibia.svg6–73Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
5 July 2025 Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria South Africa  Flag of South Africa.svg42–24Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
12 July 2025 Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Gqeberha South Africa  Flag of South Africa.svg45–0Flag of Italy.svg  Italy

Squad

On May 21, Italy named a 33-player squad for the tour. [6]

On June 11 Louis Lynagh replaced Monty Ioane. [7] On June 23 Simone Ferrari replaced Giosuè Zilocchi. [8] On June 27 it was announced that Federico Mori will not join the tour, due to injury. [9] On June 30, Pietro Ceccarelli and Damiano Mazza were added to the squad in substitution of Marco Riccioni and Leonardo Marin, who were both injured in the first match against Namibia. [10] On July 4, Leonard Krumov joined the team in South Africa in substitution of injured Riccardo Favretto. [11] On July 7, Giampietro Ribaldi was called to replace Giacomo Nicotera. [12]

Player Position Date of birth (age)CapsClub/province
Tommaso Di Bartolomeo Hooker (2001-01-04)4 January 2001 (aged 24)0 Flag of Italy.svg Zebre Parma
Pablo Dimcheff Hooker (1999-07-01)1 July 1999 (aged 25)0 Flag of France.svg Colomiers
Giacomo Nicotera (c) Hooker (1996-07-15)15 July 1996 (aged 28)33 Flag of France.svg Stade Français
Giampietro Ribaldi Hooker (1997-03-12)12 March 1997 (aged 28)0 Flag of Italy.svg Zebre Parma
Pietro Ceccarelli Prop (1992-02-16)16 February 1992 (aged 33)34 Flag of France.svg Perpignan
Simone Ferrari Prop (1994-03-28)28 March 1994 (aged 31)64 Flag of Italy.svg Benetton
Danilo Fischetti Prop (1998-01-26)26 January 1998 (aged 27)52 Flag of Italy.svg Zebre Parma
Muhamed Hasa Prop (2001-09-10)10 September 2001 (aged 23)0 Flag of Italy.svg Zebre Parma
Marco Riccioni Prop (1997-10-19)19 October 1997 (aged 27)33 Flag of England.svg Saracens
Mirco Spagnolo Prop (2001-01-02)2 January 2001 (aged 24)14 Flag of Italy.svg Benetton
Matteo Canali Lock (1998-09-11)11 September 1998 (aged 26)0 Flag of Italy.svg Zebre Parma
Niccolò Cannone Lock (1998-05-17)17 May 1998 (aged 27)52 Flag of Italy.svg Benetton
Riccardo Favretto Lock (2001-10-18)18 October 2001 (aged 23)6 Flag of Italy.svg Benetton
Leonard Krumov Lock (1996-05-01)1 May 1996 (aged 29)0 Flag of Italy.svg Zebre Parma
Andrea Zambonin Lock (2000-09-03)3 September 2000 (aged 24)9 Flag of Italy.svg Zebre Parma
Lorenzo Cannone Back row (2001-01-28)28 January 2001 (aged 24)28 Flag of Italy.svg Benetton
Alessandro Izekor Back row (2000-03-05)5 March 2000 (aged 25)4 Flag of Italy.svg Benetton
Sebastian Negri Back row (1994-06-30)30 June 1994 (aged 30)63 Flag of Italy.svg Benetton
David Odiase Back row (2003-01-19)19 January 2003 (aged 22)0 Flag of France.svg Oyonnax
Ross Vintcent Back row (2002-06-05)5 June 2002 (aged 23)14 Flag of England.svg Exeter Chiefs
Manuel Zuliani Back row (2000-04-26)26 April 2000 (aged 25)32 Flag of Italy.svg Benetton
Alessandro Fusco Scrum-half (1999-10-28)28 October 1999 (aged 25)18 Flag of Italy.svg Zebre Parma
Alessandro Garbisi Scrum-half (2002-04-11)11 April 2002 (aged 23)16 Flag of Italy.svg Benetton
Stephen Varney Scrum-half (2001-05-15)15 May 2001 (aged 24)32 Flag of France.svg Vannes
Giacomo Da Re Fly-half (1999-03-29)29 March 1999 (aged 26)2 Flag of Italy.svg Zebre Parma
Giovanni Montemauri Fly-half (2000-10-24)24 October 2000 (aged 24)0 Flag of Italy.svg Zebre Parma
Giulio Bertaccini Centre (2000-11-29)29 November 2000 (aged 24)1 Flag of Italy.svg Zebre Parma
Damiano Mazza Centre (1999-02-16)16 February 1999 (aged 26)0 Flag of Italy.svg Zebre Parma
Leonardo Marin Centre (2002-02-23)23 February 2002 (aged 23)14 Flag of Italy.svg Benetton
Tommaso Menoncello Centre (2002-08-20)20 August 2002 (aged 22)28 Flag of Italy.svg Benetton
Marco Zanon Centre (1997-10-03)3 October 1997 (aged 27)17 Flag of Italy.svg Benetton
Simone Gesi Wing (2001-05-23)23 May 2001 (aged 24)3 Flag of Italy.svg Zebre Parma
Louis Lynagh Wing (2000-12-03)3 December 2000 (aged 24)5 Flag of Italy.svg Benetton
Paolo Odogwu Wing (1997-02-18)18 February 1997 (aged 28)6 Flag of Italy.svg Benetton
Jacopo Trulla Fullback (2000-07-05)5 July 2000 (aged 24)14 Flag of Italy.svg Zebre Parma
Mirko Belloni Fullback (2004-06-04)4 June 2004 (aged 21)0 Flag of Italy.svg Rovigo Delta

Matches

Namibia vs Italy

27 June 2025
15:00 CAT (UTC+02)
Namibia  Flag of Namibia.svg6–73Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
Pen: Swanepoel (2/2) 7', 16' Report Try: Penalty try (2) 5', 80+3'
Trulla (3) 18' m, 40+2' c, 75' c
Marin 23' c
Gesi 32' c
Menoncello 38' c
Fusco 45' c
Spagnolo 63' m
Varney 70' c
Con: Da Re (6/8) 24', 33', 39', 43', 46', 71'
Varney (1/1) 76'
Hage Geingob Rugby Stadium, Windhoek
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
FB15 André van den Berg
RW14 Danie van der Merwe
OC13 Alcino Izaacs Sub off.svg 56'
IC12 Danco Burger
LW11 Jurgen Meyer
FH10 Tiaan Swanepoel
SH9 Jacques Theron Sub off.svg 72'
N88 Adriaan Booysen Sub off.svg 9'Sub on.svg 17'Sub off.svg 60'
OF7 Max Katjijeko
BF6 Prince !Gaoseb (c)
RL5 Johan Retief Sub off.svg 72'
LL4 Adriaan Ludick Sub off.svg 47'
TP3 Aranos Coetzee Sub off.svg 60'
HK2 Louis van der Westhuizen Yellow card.svg 4'Sub off.svg 56'
LP1 Haitembu Shikufa Sub off.svg 60'
Substitutions:
HK16 Armand Combrinck Sub on.svg 9'Sub off.svg 17'Sub on.svg 56'
PR17 Jason Benade Sub on.svg 60'
PR18 Sidney Halupé Sub on.svg 60'
LK19 Ruan Ludick Sub on.svg 72'
FL20 Johan Luttig Sub on.svg 47'
FL21 Peter Diergaardt Sub on.svg 72'
SH22 Oela Blaauw Sub on.svg 60'
WG23 Quiren Madjiedt Sub on.svg 56'
Coach:
Flag of Namibia.svg Jacques Burger
FB15 Jacopo Trulla
RW14 Paolo Odogwu Sub off.svg 71'
OC13 Tommaso Menoncello
IC12 Leonardo Marin Sub off.svg 44'
LW11 Simone Gesi
FH10 Giacomo Da Re
SH9 Alessandro Fusco Sub off.svg 54'
N88 Ross Vintcent
OF7 Manuel Zuliani Sub off.svg 60'
BF6 Sebastian Negri
RL5 Riccardo Favretto Sub off.svg 54'
LL4 Niccolò Cannone
TP3 Marco Riccioni Sub off.svg 5'
HK2 Giacomo Nicotera (c)Sub off.svg 54'
LP1 Danilo Fischetti Sub off.svg 54'
Substitutions:
HK16 Tommaso Di Bartolomeo Sub on.svg 54'
PR17 Mirco Spagnolo Sub on.svg 54'
PR18 Muhamed Hasa Sub on.svg 5'
LK19 Andrea Zambonin Sub on.svg 54'
FL20 Lorenzo Cannone Sub on.svg 60'
SH21 Stephen Varney Sub on.svg 54'
FH22 Giulio Bertaccini Sub on.svg 44'
WG23 Mirko Belloni Sub on.svg 71'
Coach:
Flag of Argentina.svg Gonzalo Quesada

Player of the Match:
Giacomo Da Re (Italy)

Assistant referees:
Morné Ferreira (South Africa)
Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa)

Notes:

South Africa vs Italy (first test)

5 July 2025
17:10 SAST (UTC+02)
South Africa  Flag of South Africa.svg42–24Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
Try: Kriel 11' c
van den Berg (2) 23' c, 37' c
Arendse 30' c
Koch 57' c
van Staden 73' c
Con: Pollard (6/6) 12', 23', 31', 38', 58', 74'		 Report Try: Zuliani 46' c
Dimcheff 63' c
N. Cannone 68' c
Con: Da Re (3/3) 47', 64', 69'
Pen: Da Re (1/1) 28'
Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria [14]
Attendance: 42,632
Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
FB15 Damian Willemse
RW14 Cheslin Kolbe
OC13 Jesse Kriel (c)
IC12 Damian de Allende Sub off.svg 63'
LW11 Kurt-Lee Arendse
FH10 Handré Pollard
SH9 Morné van den Berg Sub off.svg 55'
N88 Jasper Wiese Sub off.svg 55'
OF7 Vincent Tshituka
BF6 Marco van Staden
RL5 Lood de Jager Sub off.svg 48'
LL4 Eben Etzebeth Sub off.svg 48'
TP3 Wilco Louw Sub off.svg 48'
HK2 Malcolm Marx Sub off.svg 48'
LP1 Ox Nché Sub off.svg 48'
Substitutions:
HK16 Bongi Mbonambi Sub on.svg 48'
PR17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels Sub on.svg 48'
PR18 Vincent Koch Sub on.svg 48'
LK19 RG Snyman Sub on.svg 48'
LK20 Franco Mostert Sub on.svg 48'
FL21 Kwagga Smith Sub on.svg 55'
SH22 Faf de Klerk Sub on.svg 55'
FB23 Willie le Roux Sub on.svg 63'
Coach:
Flag of South Africa.svg Rassie Erasmus
FB15 Jacopo Trulla
RW14 Louis Lynagh
OC13 Tommaso Menoncello
IC12 Marco Zanon
LW11 Simone Gesi
FH10 Giacomo Da Re
SH9 Alessandro Fusco Sub off.svg 55'
N88 Lorenzo Cannone Yellow card.svg 23'Sub off.svg 48'
OF7 Manuel Zuliani Sub off.svg 59'
BF6 Alessandro Izekor Yellow card.svg 74'
RL5 Andrea Zambonin Sub off.svg 62'
LL4 Niccolò Cannone (c)
TP3 Simone Ferrari Sub off.svg 31'Sub on.svg 55'
HK2 Tommaso Di Bartolomeo Sub off.svg 62'
LP1 Danilo Fischetti Sub off.svg 55'
Substitutions:
HK16 Pablo Dimcheff Sub on.svg 62'
PR17 Mirco Spagnolo Sub on.svg 55'
PR18 Muhamed Hasa Sub on.svg 31'Sub off.svg 55'
LK19 Matteo Canali Sub on.svg 62'
N820 Ross Vintcent Sub on.svg 48'
FL21 David Odiase Sub on.svg 59'
SH22 Alessandro Garbisi Sub on.svg 55'
CE23 Giulio Bertaccini Sub on.svg 77'
Coach:
Flag of Argentina.svg Gonzalo Quesada

Player of the Match:
Vincent Tshituka (South Africa)

Assistant referees:
Matthew Carley (England)
Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Television match official:
Andrew Jackson (England)
Foul play review officer:
Tual Trainini (France)

Notes:

South Africa vs Italy (second test)

12 July 2025
17:10 SAST (UTC+02)
South Africa  Flag of South Africa.svg45–0Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
Try: Williams 8' m
van der Merwe (2) 15' m, 31' c
Moodie 37' m
Marx 50' c
Mapimpi 72' c
Wessels 80' c
Con: Libbok (4/7) 32', 51', 73', 80+1'		 Report
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Gqeberha [14]
Attendance: 44,282
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
FB15 Willie le Roux Sub off.svg 55'
RW14 Edwill van der Merwe
OC13 Canan Moodie Sub off.svg 55'
IC12 André Esterhuizen
LW11 Makazole Mapimpi
FH10 Manie Libbok
SH9 Grant Williams Sub off.svg 55'
N88 Jasper Wiese Red card.svg 21'
OF7 Pieter-Steph du Toit
BF6 Marco van Staden Sub off.svg 57'
RL5 Ruan Nortjé
LL4 Salmaan Moerat (c)Sub off.svg 55'
TP3 Wilco Louw Yellow card.svg 44'Sub off.svg 61'
HK2 Malcolm Marx Sub off.svg 61'
LP1 Thomas du Toit Sub off.svg 30'
Substitutions:
HK16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels Sub on.svg 61'
PR17 Ox Nché Sub on.svg 30'
PR18 Asenathi Ntlabakanye Sub on.svg 61'
FL19 Cobus Wiese Sub on.svg 55'
FL20 Evan Roos Sub on.svg 57'
SH21 Cobus Reinach Sub on.svg 55'
FH22 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu Sub on.svg 55'
CE23 Ethan Hooker Sub on.svg 55'
Coach:
Flag of South Africa.svg Rassie Erasmus
FB15 Mirko Belloni
RW14 Louis Lynagh
OC13 Tommaso Menoncello
IC12 Marco Zanon
LW11 Jacopo Trulla Sub off.svg 17'
FH10 Giacomo Da Re
SH9 Alessandro Garbisi Sub off.svg 68'
N88 Ross Vintcent
OF7 Manuel Zuliani Sub off.svg 70'
BF6 Sebastian Negri Sub off.svg 59'
RL5 Andrea Zambonin Sub off.svg 63'
LL4 Niccolò Cannone (c)
TP3 Simone Ferrari Sub off.svg 52'
HK2 Tommaso Di Bartolomeo Sub off.svg 52'
LP1 Danilo Fischetti Yellow card.svg 47'Sub off.svg 63'
Substitutions:
HK16 Pablo Dimcheff Sub on.svg 52'
PR17 Mirco Spagnolo Sub on.svg 63'
PR18 Muhamed Hasa Sub on.svg 52'
LK19 Matteo Canali Sub on.svg 63'
FL20 Alessandro Izekor Sub on.svg 59'
FL21 David Odiase Yellow card.svg 74'Sub on.svg 70'
SH22 Stephen Varney Sub on.svg 68'
CE23 Giulio Bertaccini Sub on.svg 17'
Coach:
Flag of Argentina.svg Gonzalo Quesada

Player of the Match:
Edwill van der Merwe (South Africa)

Assistant referees:
Matthew Carley (England)
Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
Television match official:
Tual Trainini (France)
Foul play review officer:
Andrew Jackson (England)

Notes:

See also

References

  1. ↑ Skippers, David (13 October 2024). "Springboks' opponents for 2025 mid-year internationals revealed – report". Planetrugby.
  2. ↑ "Opponents and dates for 2025 home Tests confirmed". sarugby.co.za. South African Rugby Union. 27 November 2025. Archived from the original on 10 January 2025.
  3. ↑ "Gonzalo Quesada reveals Italy's third opponent in the summer". OnRugby. 31 January 2025.
  4. ↑ "RugbyRugby, l'Italia a luglio sfiderà il Sudafrica e la Namibia" [Rugby: Italy will take on South Africa and Namibia in July]. OA Sport (in Italian). 19 March 2025.
  5. ↑ "Springbok home Test venues locked in for 2025". sarugby.co.za. South African Rugby Union. 27 February 2025. Archived from the original on 28 February 2025.
  6. ↑ "Italrugby, gli Azzurri convocati per il Tour Estivo 2025". www.federugby.it. 21 May 2025. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
  7. ↑ "Italrugby, convocato Lynagh per il Tour Estivo 2025". www.federugby.it. 11 June 2025. Retrieved 2025-06-11.
  8. ↑ "Italrugby, convocato Simone Ferrari per il Tour Estivo 2025". www.federugby.it. 23 June 2025. Retrieved 2025-06-23.
  9. ↑ "Italia, Federico Mori indisponibile per i Test Match estivi". www.onrugby.it. 27 June 2025. Retrieved 2025-06-27.
  10. ↑ Bardi, Valerio (2025-06-30). "Rugby - Italia: due nuovi giocatori convocati per il doppio test con il Sudafrica". On Rugby (in Italian). Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  11. ↑ Palma, Francesco (2025-07-04). "Rugby - L'Italia convoca un'altra seconda linea per la seconda parte del tour estivo in Sudafrica". On Rugby (in Italian). Retrieved 2025-07-05.
  12. ↑ Pellegrino, Antonio (2025-07-07). "Italrugby, convocato Ribaldi per il Test Match contro il Sudafrica a Port Elizabeth". Federazione Italiana Rugby (in Italian). Retrieved 2025-07-07.
  13. ↑ "Paolo Odogwu set for Italy return against Namibia with three debutants". Rugby Pass. 25 June 2025. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  14. 1 2 "The Springboks will welcome Italy, Georgia, Australia and Argentina to South Africa in 2025, SA Rugby confirmed on Wednesday". 27 November 2024. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
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