Italy

Josh Syms will depart Old Glory DC after just one season to take up a contract with Zebre Parma. The 42-year-old New Zealander has agreed a two-year deal to become the Italian club’s new Forwards Coach, as confirmed by the Hawke’s Bay Rugby Union. Since taking over in January, Syms …

Rugby Canada has a new High Performance Director. Stephen Aboud will oversee all national team programs, with a focus on developing the elite player pathway in Canada from age-grade to senior level. He will officially take up the position next month. Aboud comes highly rated after working in similar roles …

Before three other Men’s Rugby World Cup tournaments take place there is confirmed interest in hosting Rugby World Cup 2035. The first to state the intention to bid was England. Two more countries are officially now interested in hosting Rugby World Cup 2035. England hosted matches at Rugby World Cups …

The final four of Europe have been decided. This weekend saw the Quarter Finals of the European Champions Cup and Challenge Cup played. Americas players were involved in winning efforts. CHAMPIONS CUP United Rugby Championship (URC) leaders Leinster went into their home Semi Final as firm favorites. They did not …

Sergio Parisse may make history at Rugby World Cup 2023. The former Italian captain could play in a 6th Rugby World Cup. The native of Argentina is still professional rugby at the elite level at the age of 39. Asked about the possibility of a return to the test arena …

Romania has confirmed three warm-up matches ahead of Rugby World Cup 2023. The Stejarri will play one home test match and two away test matches in August. The Americas is included with Romania’s first match in August to be against the USA in Bucharest. The match is the second confirmed …

World Rugby’s approval of eligibility law changes may bring substantial changes for Rugby World Cup 2023. Players are able to represent a second country following a three-year stand-down period from their last binding representative appearance for their first country. In other words, there are players from both RWC 2019 and / …

Dark clouds surround  the playing future of Italian bright spark Iván Nemer. The Argentine prop fit in well at Benetton and quickly earned a call-up to the test team. His name was not on the recent Italian roster announcement for the 2023 Six Nations with the reason now known. As …

Benetton’s healthy supply of Argentine players has grown. Another Argentine hooker will play in the European elite. Benetton have signed 21-year-old Bautista Bernasconi on a deal from 2023-2025. The move will be the first foreign experience for Bernasconi. In terms of Argentine players, Benetton leads the United Rugby Championship (URC). …

The 2023 Six Nations sees changes in player eligibility to that from prior years. World Rugby’s eligibility law changes entitle eligible players to represent a second country following a three-year stand-down period from their last binding representative appearance for their first country. The change of nationality saw a variety of players …