Benetton Rugby, locker room turnaround: Calum McRae explains decision
Just a few days before the start of the 2025-2026 URC season, Benetton Rugby has announced an’important change at locker room level: in fact, there will be two players filling the role of captain, instead of just one as was customary in previous years. In fact, alongside the confirmed Michele Lamaro there will also be Sebastian Negri, also an experienced flanker both in green-and-white and with the Azzurri jersey.
Calum McRae, Benetton’s technical guide, spoke about the turnaround within the locker room starting with Lamaro’s confirmation: “It was a natural choice: he has been playing this role for several seasons with professionalism and a great sense of responsibility. He is a reference point on and off the field, and his continuity will give solidity and security to the group”.
“Next to him we decided to appoint Sebastian Negri– he then explained, talking instead about this year’s new addition.
He has shown with commitment, human and technical qualities that he deserves this responsibility and has been able to earn the esteem and respect of his teammates. His dual origins also make him an ideal bridge with the foreign players in our locker room”.
“The choice of both of them should not be seen as that of mere team captains, but as that of true club captains: figures who embody and represent the values of our club on and off the field– McRae recounted further.
They will also be supported by Federico Ruzza and Andy Uren, who are also landmarks within the locker room”.
Benetton Rugby arrives from a season of transition: the Treviso club missed out on qualification for the URC playoffs in a sprint, a result that will take the Northeastern franchise to the Challenge Cup, after the year in Champions ended in the round of 16 with a mocking defeat at home to Castres, 39-37.
