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Sevens

Azzurri announce squad for SVNS 3 campaign

STELLENBOSCH, SOUTH AFRICA - JULY 14: Filippo Bozzoni of Italy during the World Rugby U20 Championship 2023, 11th place play-off match between Italy and Japan at Danie Craven Stadium on July 14, 2023 in Stellenbosch, South Africa. (Photo by World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)

Ahead of the inaugural HSBC SVNS 3 event in Dubai, Italy Men’s Sevens have named their 12-player squad for the competition.

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Gli Azzurri have been named in Pool B of the competition, which starts on Friday 17 January in the UAE, and will take on Canada, Madagascar and Belgium in group play.

The side are coached by nine-cap Italy scrum-half Matteo Mazzantini, who made two of those Test appearances at the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia.

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In 2025 the Italians finished third overall on the Men’s 7s Rugby Europe Championship Series, behind HSBC SVNS Series core teams France and Spain. This included a second-place finish in Hamburg to complete that continental campaign.

The squad includes former Italy Under-20 internationals Filippo Bozzoni and Dewi Passarella. Both have been a regular feature in the Italy Sevens set-up since 2023.

Graduates of the programme include Italy internationals Alessandro Fusco, Alessandro Garbisi and Tito Tebaldi.

A top two finish in Dubai next week can see Italy qualify for HSBC SVNS 2. The second tier of the newly-formatted global rugby sevens competition begins in February and concludes at the end of March. It has stops in Kenya, Uruguay and Brazil.

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The 12-player squad will meet in Pordenone on Sunday before travelling to Dubai the following day.

Related

Strong Las Yaguaretés squad named for SVNS 3 challenge

Ahead of their first tournament of 2026 Argentina's Las Yaguaretés have named a strong 13-player squad to compete at HSBC SVNS 3.

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Italy HSBC SVNS 3 squad

Francesco Bonavolonta
Filippo Bozzoni
Aramis Corona
Rocco del Bono
Luca Nicolas di Salvatore
Paul Marie Foroncelli
Francesco Krsul
Cristian Lai
Giovanni Marzotto
Giacomo Ndoumbelobe
Marco Scalabrin
Flavio Pio Vaccari

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Comments on RugbyPass

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PMcD 13 minutes ago
Jason Holland's All Blacks exit remains a head-scratcher

I think he knows the AB attack has declined and it couldn’t stay as it was, so when an alternative role was available (that works for him), he’s decided to leave before being pushed (that likely would have followed) and then trying to find a role that is right for him and his family.

I don’t think there is a big conspiracy here but it clearly says it’s not a happy camp within the AB coaching team, which matches the body language they are showing in games.



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4 Go to comments
P
PMcD 24 minutes ago
Why English referees are helping raise Prem spectacle and national team soar

NB - we don’t talk about this very often but if you were to rank the impact of variables on an AWAY game, what would be your priority rating for the following that impacts games ie which order would you rank these variables?

- Climate conditions - (rain/cold)



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27 Go to comments
P
PMcD 36 minutes ago
The coaching conundrum part two: Have New Zealand Rugby been too insular?

It’s fairly high and DoR’s are putting greater trust in some of these younger players, so fans are curious as soon as they come through.

Bath currently have some brilliant youngsters coming through, especially in the forwards. Last night at Castres (AWAY) we started Billy Sela (20 y/o) at tighthead, with Kepu Tuipulotu (20 y/o) coming off the bench at hooker.



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890 Go to comments
P
PMcD 44 minutes ago
The coaching conundrum part two: Have New Zealand Rugby been too insular?

It’s not that ruthless at Academy level. Some clubs will run U16 & U18 teams but it’s mainly at 18 where they start paying you to be in the Academy (also links with University) when the key decisions are made. You see a few 18 year old hit the periphery of Premiership squads but is pretty rare, so it’s not a deliberate strategy actively being pursued.

It was harder for Academy players to get games between 18-21 and many are not playing enough games. They are training 5 days a week and playing about 10 games a season (that’s not enough).



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890 Go to comments
P
PMcD 1 hour ago
The coaching conundrum part two: Have New Zealand Rugby been too insular?

French Top 14 are a step ahead of the Premiership on most fronts - better Government support, tv commercial rights, stadium infrastucture (larger), matchday attendance, playing squads. There is a lot to like and is the reason they are ahead.

890 Go to comments
P
PMcD 1 hour ago
The coaching conundrum part two: Have New Zealand Rugby been too insular?

U think my last paragraph sums it up pretty well. They made a decision ago, probably not understanding the unintended long term consequences and it’s made it very difficult to be able to go back the way things have turned out.

890 Go to comments
j
johnz 1 hour ago
'Unlevel playing field': Former Hurricanes CEO opens up on club's woes

The unfortunate truth is NZR seems obsessed with creating a market in the US, when there is a ready and growing market in Japan.

I was taught a long way back, the first rule of marketing is go where there is existing demand. If you have to create demand for a product, nobody knows they need, you’ve already lost.



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NB 1 hour ago
Why Tommy Freeman could be England's lucky number 13

That’s where I learned how to open up a discussion - by watching him with Zelensky in the WH, then doing the opposite!

The last piece I wrote had almost 900 replies, so really I try to limit my involvements more now. Esp long convos with just one other poster



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NB 2 hours ago
‘There is only one Irish job that Ronan O’Gara desires, and it is not Leinster’

No idea Ed. Write an article about how he goes maybe?🤣

You usually go t1ts-up at the 6N, so what will yours be if SB picks Freeman or sticks with Dingwall?



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A
Archibald 2 hours ago
‘There is only one Irish job that Ronan O’Gara desires, and it is not Leinster’

Of course not. Deric Bellend isn’t man enough to admit that he’s made a mistake.

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N
NB 2 hours ago
Why English referees are helping raise Prem spectacle and national team soar

Aye🤣

27 Go to comments
N
NB 2 hours ago
Why English referees are helping raise Prem spectacle and national team soar

Which was pretty much the theme on social media after LP admitted his in convo with that Bok supporter HH!

27 Go to comments
H
Hammer Head 2 hours ago
Jason Holland's All Blacks exit remains a head-scratcher

I’m not sure what’s so hard to understand about the Holland Issue. He got picked for a job, the ABs haven’t lived up to expectations. The coach wasn’t the right pick. He moves on, whether by push or jump.

What would be a head scratcher would be coaches hanging on to their jobs for dear life despite the exit music getting louder.



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H
Hammer Head 2 hours ago
Jason Holland's All Blacks exit remains a head-scratcher



I try not to blame coaches for performances.

But games are played by players.



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Paul Ennis 2 hours ago
‘There is only one Irish job that Ronan O’Gara desires, and it is not Leinster’

I agree… it is impossible to move people in, out or around until you know what your top dog is doing. I don’t think a bad 6N will result in any change before the RWC though. The question is whether the IRFU make the usual mistake of trying to negotiate prior to the RWC. By announcing a new contract (like O’Sullivan & Kidney), you end up sacking them the following year. By announcing his departure (like Schmidt), the coach is a lame duck and the players under perform. But the alternative is to wait and then all of your potential replacements are already gone. But maybe that bit of jeopardy and uncertainty will focus the minds of the coaching team. A new deal is only offered if Ire reach a Semi Final.

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G
GQ 3 hours ago
‘There is only one Irish job that Ronan O’Gara desires, and it is not Leinster’

As a South African/Stormers fan, I like O’Gara. He speaks his mind and cut his coaching teeth with the Saders in NZ. That is gold. I reckon he would be a perfect Irish coach with Easterby and O’Connell as his lieutenants. PS: Leinster may well have been bageled 35-0 bagel in Cape Town in the first round of the URC, but Nienaber is definitely committed to Leinster. That result won't define Leinster’s season.

38 Go to comments
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JW 3 hours ago
The coaching conundrum part two: Have New Zealand Rugby been too insular?

You’re not paying attention very well if you don’t realise I’m their worst critic here.

I just know enough to call out people who they the t”aking of tap” is the root cause of their issues LOL. Sorry, you’re probably just coming from your own perspective and understanding. I just want the team to get better and white noise like you’re creating with this troll of an idea they shouldn’t have taken a tap is not helping anyone.



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J
JW 4 hours ago
The coaching conundrum part two: Have New Zealand Rugby been too insular?

Waited and what? What do you think changed?

We’ll see how the French C/D go next year, from what I’ve read of those who follow they are the best that could come. That the first teamers wouldn’t have been able to play any better etc. I’m inclined to think they are now at a level of the All Blacks and can have the backups perform admirably.



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JW 4 hours ago
The coaching conundrum part two: Have New Zealand Rugby been too insular?

I thought about but didn’t get around to talking about engagement outside the games themselves in my last reply above, as pertains to fans involvement with say Academy players, how would you rate the fans interesting in more than the stars/starters of their clubs these days? Noticing increase interest in say games with fresh players than before?

I think that’s long been as aspect lacking from our broadcast/coverage here.



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890 Go to comments
J
JW 4 hours ago
The coaching conundrum part two: Have New Zealand Rugby been too insular?

Yeah I know, I was referring to sources outside your establishments, ones that have no inclination of following the Prem guidelines (particular limits on retaining academy players).

Does your club have 15yos being snapped up out of their systems?



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