Italrugby, the summoned for the double challenge to South Africa
The Italian Men’s National Team has officially begun its march towards the first match against South Africa – the second match for the Azzurri as part of the 2025 Summer Tour – scheduled for Saturday, July 5 at 5:10 p.m. at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria with live coverage scheduled on Sky Sport.
Italy reached Johannesburg – site of the first part of the Azzurri gathering – on Saturday afternoon, June 28, the day after a 73-6 victory over Namibia in Windhoek in their Summer Tour opener.
The team led by Gonzalo Quesada will train today, Tuesday, July 1, and Thursday, July 3, the day the Azzurri will move to Pretoria and the lineup that will face the Springboks in Pretoria will be announced.
Ahead of the double challenge to the reigning World Champions, the Italrugby coaching staff has called up Pietro Ceccarelli – a prop with 34 caps – and newcomer Damiano Mazza, a Zebre center on his first call-up to the senior national team. Both players have reached Italy’s headquarters and will train regularly with their teammates.
Here is Italy’s match schedule:
27.06.25 Namibia v Italy 6-73 – Windhoek, Hage Geingbob Stadium
05.07.25 South Africa v Italy 5:10 p.m. – Pretoria, Loftus Versfeld
12.07.25 South Africa v Italy 5:10 pm – Porth Elizabeth, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
Here is the list of the summoned athletes:
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Piloni
Pietro CECCARELLI (USAP Perpignan, 34 caps)
Simone FERRARI (Benetton Rugby, 64 caps)
Danilo FISCHETTI (Zebre Parma, 53 caps)
Muhamed HASA (Zebre Parma, 1 cap)
Mirco SPAGNOLO (Benetton Rugby, 15 caps)
Talloners
Tommaso DI BARTOLOMEO (Zebre Parma, 1 cap)
Pablo DIMCHEFF (Colomiers Rugby, rookie)
Giacomo NICOTERA (Stade Français, 34 caps)
Second Lines
Matteo CANALI (Zebre Parma, rookie)
Niccolò CANNONE (Benetton Rugby, 53 caps)
Riccardo FAVRETTO (Benetton Rugby, 7 caps)
Andrea ZAMBONIN (Zebre Parma, 10 caps)
Third Lines
Lorenzo CANNONE (Benetton Rugby, 29 caps)
Alessandro IZEKOR (Benetton Rugby, 4 caps)
Sebastian NEGRI (Benetton Rugby, 64 caps)
David ODIASE (Oyonnax, rookie)
Ross VINTCENT (Exeter Chiefs, 15 caps)
Manuel ZULIANI (Benetton Rugby, 33 caps)
Medians of Scrum
Alessandro FUSCO (Zebre Parma, 19 caps)
Alessandro GARBISI (Benetton Rugby, 16 caps)
Stephen VARNEY (Vannes, 33 caps)
Opening Midfielders
Giacomo DA RE (Zebre Parma, 3 caps)
Giovanni MONTEMAURI (Zebre Parma, rookie)
Centers
Giulio BERTACCINI (Valorugby Emilia, 2 caps)
Damiano MAZZA (Zebre Parma, rookie)
Tommaso MENONCELLO (Benetton Rugby, 29 caps)
Marco ZANON (Benetton Rugby, 17 caps)
Ali/Estremi
Mirko BELLONI (FEMI-CZ Rugby Rovigo Delta, 1 cap)
Simone GESI (Zebre Parma, 4 caps)
Louis LYNAGH (Benetton Rugby, 5 caps)
Paolo ODOGWU (Benetton Rugby, 7 caps)
Jacopo TRULLA (Zebre Parma, 15 caps)
