Both Irish and English interest as Zebre confirm official 2019/20 squad
Zebre have named a 45-man strong squad for the 2019/20 which includes both Irish and English players.
The Michael Bradley coached side have developed considerably from the whipping boys of previous seasons, with a strong emphasis on producing Italian qualified players for the Azzurri.
Although they finished bottom of Conference A last season, they did pick up three wins from the Pool stages of the Challenge Cup.
With an improvement in mind, the FIR controlled, Parma-based side have bolstered their squad ahead of the new season, with several relatively high profile additions from both Leinster and Harlequins.
Mick Kearney
Leinster secondrow Kearney was unlucky at Leinster where a fully stocked stable of secondrows (James Ryan, Devin Toner, Scott Fardy and Ross Moloney) meant despite fine performances for the Dublin province, he was unable to regularly see first-team action. He clocked up 47 appearances at Leinster but there is plenty left in the tank for the 28-year-old, 6’5, 18 stone 3 forward.
Ian Nagle
Another Leinster secondrow who struggled for game time, the former Munsterman’s injury-dogged career saw him fade into the background at the blues, before ultimately being loaned out to Ulster for the remainder of the 2018/19 season. He showed good form in 11 performances for the Ulstermen.
?? Cork born ?? lock @iannagle joins Italian side ?? Zebre #Rugby from @UlsterRugby ???
He started #rugby @Munsterrugby, back in Ireland @leinsterrugby after ?@Cambridge_Uni
?? "? have ambitious plans that I am excited to be a part of!"
Read all??https://t.co/O6Xw8MWGpd pic.twitter.com/cZl3UESZjc
— Zebre Rugby Club ? (@ZebreRugby) May 24, 2019
Charlie Walker
The Harlequin speedster fell down the pecking order at Harlequins despite being a regular try scorer for the West London based outfit. Capped 95 times by Quins, the former England 7s speedster scored 27 tries for the club before being loaned out to Ealing Trailfinders in the Championship.
James Elliott
In his second seasons at Zebre, Elliott, who came through Northampton Saints’ Academy, made his debut in the Premiership at the age of 18 in November 2011, scoring a try in the win at Sale. In eight seasons with the club the centre played 155 official matches, between Premiership, Anglo-Welsh Cup and European Cups.
David Sisi
Capped by Italy, Sisi is in his third season at Zebre. The 6’5, 120kg forward won 14 caps for England U20s in 2012 and 2013, and enjoyed stints at Bath and London Irish.
FULL 2019/2020 SQUAD
Looseheads
Paolo Buonfiglio
Danilo Fischetti
Andrea Lovotti
Daniele Rimpelli
Hookers
Luca Bigi
Massimo Ceciliani
Oliviero Fabiani
Marco Manfredi
Tightheads
Eduardo Bello
Alexandru Tarus
Roberto Tenga
Giusué Zilocchi
Secondrows
George Biagi
Mick Kearney
Leonard Krumov
Ian Nagle
Samuele Ortis
David Sisi
Apisai Tauyavuca
Backrow
Renato Giammarioli
Giovanni Licata
Lorenzo Masselli
Maxime Mbandà
Johan Meyer
Jimmy Tuivaiti
Scrumhalves
Guglielmo Palazzani
Joshua Renton
Marcello Violi
Fkyhavles
Michelangelo Biondelli
Francois Brummer
Carlo Canna
Centres
Giulio Bisegni
Tommaso Boni
Tommaso Castello
James Elliott
Enrico Lucchin
Wings
Paula Balekana
Mattia Bellini
Pierre Bruno
Gabriele Di Giulio
Giovanbattista Venditti
Charlie Walker
Fullbacks
Junior Laloifi
Edoardo Padovani
Comments on RugbyPass
I hope WRU cops a 12 month ban.
1 Go to commentsOuch. Pumped. Even Nohamba is a better flyhalf than Ford.
2 Go to commentsI hope Leinster’s proud of themselves fielding a poor team. They should decide if they’re all in or not.
2 Go to commentsJordie is looking at 16 games maximum if Leinster reach both the URC and champions cup finals. Thats not guaranteed. Some of those home URC fixtures will be cakewalks as well for Leinster and there is not much doing during the 6 nations in Feb and March so he can probably get a decent rest then. He will have to really put in it for maybe 7 or 8 games max. It should be a good move for both.
13 Go to commentsThe game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
33 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
13 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
13 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
6 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
27 Go to comments