Negri pens lengthy deal that will keep him in Italy until 2028
Benetton have confirmed the contract extension of Italian back row Sebastian Negri, who will be playing his rugby in Treviso until at least June 30, 2028.
The contract would have expired on June 30, 2025, but both parties have shaken hands for another five years.
Negri has become a cornerstone of Coach Marco Bortolami’s side. Over the past years, he has established himself as one of the most consistent flankers on the international stage, showcasing his maturity while donning the “Leoni” jersey in the URC and on the European stage.
By the end of this contract, Negri will have completed 11 seasons at Treviso.
“I am happy to commit my long-term future to Benetton Rugby. I want to thank President Zatta, General Manager Pavanello, the staff, my teammates, and all the fans for their support. The club and the city hold a special place in my heart. I have already had extraordinary experiences at this club, but there is still much to accomplish, and I am determined to win more trophies and create more history here. I will continue to give my all to help the team reach the levels I know we are capable of, and I feel the same determination from the rest of the squad. Furthermore, I will continue to strive to be a role model both on and off the field. I am very excited about the future and look forward to creating more memories. Forza Leoni,” said Negri.
Born in Marondera, Zimbabwe, on June 30, 1994, Sebastian Luke Negri from Oleggio stands 195cm tall and weighs 113 kg. Of Italian origins, Negri is a versatile forward who has shown ability on both as a fetcher and as a dominant tackler and carrier of the ball.
His journey in rugby began at the age of six at Springvale House School in Zimbabwe before relocating to South Africa, where he attended Clifton Nottingham School. He later earned a sports scholarship to Hilton College. At the age of 18, he joined the Academy of the South African Natal Sharks, eventually moving on to play in the Currie Cup after being offered a spot with Western Province.
Thanks to his Milanese father’s roots and his evident talent, Negri earned his first cap for the Italian national team at just 19 years old during the Junior World Cup in 2013. After nine appearances for the U20 team, he continued his career with the Emerging Italy squad. On June 18, 2016, he earned his first two caps with the Italian senior team.
In the summer of 2017, the forward made his first move to Europe, donning the white and green colors of Benetton.
He has also become a pivotal player for Italy, participating in two matches during the 2019 World Cup in Japan and accumulating 46 caps for Italy to date.
The flanker has made 71 appearances for Benetton Rugby, scoring seven tries. He played a crucial role in securing the victory in the Rainbow Cup and the milestones achieved by Benetton Rugby, including reaching the Challenge Cup semifinals last April. As one of the leaders in Marco Bortolami’s squad, Negri also featured in the prestigious World XV team against the Barbarians at Twickenham in May 2023, where he even scored a try.
Comments on RugbyPass
What ifs are always dangerous. If you look at the game before Sam cane got sent of SA was dominating. You could make the argument the going down to 14 men rallied the troops and made them have to play to win which is always dangerous.
128 Go to commentsOmg… you are bruised And battered Benny. Stop crying … the scoreboard speaks. What a pathetic lover you are.. 🤣🤣🤣
128 Go to commentsPacific Lions, cry me a river
128 Go to commentsThis is the single worst piece of journalism I have ever seen since your last one. As a neutral, who really states that there should be an asterisk next to a win? You are an utter embarrassment to real AB fans, journalism and that joke of a house which pays you for this nonsense. Get a life, Ben.
128 Go to commentsGuys. Cancel the World Cup champions after this analysis. It changes everything. Ben knows. We’ll have to unengrave the Bokke off the trophy and hand it to the ABs, now that I’ve been enlightened about this illegitimate win. This needs to be done. Now!
128 Go to commentsBen is right here though, Springboks were woefully poor with the advantage they had throughout this game. The France match was heroic because that was an even contest this match had it taken place in Rugby Championship would have been an easy win for NZ. If anything this match should tell the Bok coaches that a lot of this team should be changed. They beat this same NZ team by record margin with the same circumstances but with a different core. They bring back the tried and tested guys and they nearly botch this game.
128 Go to commentsI knew who wrote this article from the first few words in the headline…lol. The red card actually did the ABs a favour. It galvanized them, only then did they step up a gear. Before that there was zero momentum.
128 Go to commentsFirstly the foul on Bongi was a planned move just like the NZ master plan with Bryce Lawrence you kiwis are filthy fux perhaps try to play a cleaner game next time I doubt that’s possible tho but don’t worry world rugby is on yr side they trying to take away all the BOKS strengths to help all you weakling as Jeremy Clarkson would say LA OO ZA ERR..🤣
128 Go to commentsAbsolutely spot on Ben. I certainly wouldn't gloat over a win like that. Frustrating as it is it's done and dusted and history will forever show the result.
128 Go to commentsHo hum.
128 Go to commentsNo question they were the better team. But that is the beauty of sport isn’t it!
128 Go to commentsEveryone is into Hurling in Ireland according to Porter, but only 11 of Ireland's 32 counties enter a team into the national competition. Same old blarney.
1 Go to commentsLet’s be honest. The draw and scheduling in the World Cup was a joke but South Africa found a way after having to go the hard (nearly impossible) way to the Cup Final via France and England. NZ had a hard game against France (lost) and had 5 weeks to prepare for the Quarter, 3 weeks knowing it was Ireland. NZ theerfore had to win one big game against an Irish team who played SA and then Scotland 7 days before. They won and it was de facto a semi final because they were playing a relatively weak Argentina team and it was a walk over. In the final a very rested NZ team was playing a very tired SA team and still lost. They couldn’t score more than 11 points. Put another way SA had to find a way to win while tired and they achieved that. NZ should thank their lucky stars that they fixed the scheduling in 2015 otherwise they would be dealing with a Bok treble.
128 Go to commentsPerhaps if Bongi wasn’t targeted and removed from the game in the first 3 minutes it would have been quite a different game. Maybe if NZ also faced the same competition the Boks faced to their win NZ would have looked quite different. The final score shows who outplayed who.
128 Go to commentsRubbish article! Abuladze played most of Exeters matches when fit. He got injured against Glasgow a while ago and is out for the rest of the season, thats why he hasnt played for Exeter and Georgia recently. Do some proper research next time!
1 Go to commentsGotta love it when kids throw their toys out the pram and can’t hack it with the grown ups debate. Here’s looking at you turlough! 😉🤣
148 Go to commentsThey lost the game period move on
128 Go to commentsSpringboks won! Stop winging. You can change the game however much you and your rugby colonizing IRB want to and the Springboks will win you at that too. Your mind is colonized my friend get a life
128 Go to commentsBen, nobody gets fooled anymore by selective and biased data to support an hypothesis. Games are decided on such small margins these days that you win some and lose some, and dominance is a thing of the rugby past. Look at the RWC circle of fortune…. Ireland beats SA who beat France who beat NZ who beat Ireland. And so it goes on. Match officials help to eliminate real indiscretions. If they had been with us years before, no doubt results would have been different. Remember Andy Haden’s dive from a lineout in 1978 for which a match-wining penalty was awarded? Wales should have beaten the ABs that day. They took the loss like the gentlemen they were.
128 Go to commentsWith all the analysis and how good the all blacks were.The fundamental mistake with the ABs is that this is a test match and not an exhibition.There is no better team(country) in world rugby than the Boks that knows how to win a test match(we are post masters at this).We know our rules, we have the discipline, we tackle like beasts, we take our points and we never give up.I now have educated the ABs supporters(at least say thank you).Please stop “bitching” , accept what the outcome is and move along swiftly.
128 Go to comments