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Italy
The Italy rugby team plays in the Six Nations Championship and the Nations Championship. They’ve also competed at every edition of the Rugby World Cup.
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World Ranking
Italy are currently 11th in the World Rugby Rankings. Their highest ever ranking was 8th in November 2024.
Ranking Over Time
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2003
2015
2026
Italy Matches
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Sat 7 Nov, 2026
Sat 14 Nov, 2026
Italy Rugby Team Players
Italy Forwards
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Italy Backs
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Italy Tournaments
Italy National Rugby Union Team: The Azzurri
Italy National Rugby Union Team: The Azzurri
The Italy national rugby union team, also known as 'Gli Azzurri' by their fans, is one of Europe's finest sides. Italy is one of the countries that contests both the Six Nations Championship and the Nations Championship. In addition, they've featured in every edition of the Rugby World Cup.
Throughout history, the Italy national rugby union team has been blessed with talented players. Some of the finest examples include Sergio Parisse, Alessandro Troncon and Massimo Mascioletti.
Italy at the Six Nations Championship
The Italian rugby team first entered the Six Nations in 2000, when the tournament formally expanded to welcome the Italian squad. To allow this, the tournament's format was updated and the name was changed from the Five Nations to the Six Nations Championship.
The Azzurri got off to a flying start in the Championship. In fact, Italy's Six Nations debut concluded with an impressive 34-20 victory against Scotland.
However, since then, the Italy national rugby union team has struggled at the tournament. They regularly finish towards the bottom of the table and they have won the wooden spoon 18 times. By way of comparison, since 2000, the Italy rugby team have won a total of 18 Six Nations matches.
Italy’s worst spell in the Six Nations came between 2016 and 2021, when they failed to win a single match. By contrast, their best Six Nations finishes came in 2007, 2013 and 2026. The Italian rugby team won two matches in all three Championships, which resulted in them taking fourth place - Italy finished above Wales and Scotland in 2007, Ireland and France in 2013, and England and Wales in 2026. Coincidentally, in 2026, Italy also beat England for the first time in their history.
Italy at the Rugby World Cup
The Italy rugby team has never won the Rugby World Cup. Although they have competed in every tournament, they are yet to reach the knockout stages. To date, they have crashed out during the pool stage at every Rugby World Cup.
Despite this, Italy's Rugby World Cup campaigns have seen marked improvement. Since 2003, the Italian rugby team has consistently won two pool-stage matches.
The closest Italy came to the quarter finals was at the 2007 Rugby World Cup. After wins against Romania and Portugal, Italy played their deciding match against Scotland. Despite their best efforts, the game ended 18-16 to Scotland and Italy exited the competition.
Conversely, Italy's worst Rugby World Cup was the 1999 edition of the tournament. Not only did the Azzurri fail to win a single match, they also suffered a humiliating 101-3 loss against New Zealand.
FAQs
How many Rugby World Cups have Italy won?
Italy have never won the Rugby World Cup. In fact, the side has never managed to get past the pool stage of the competition.
Who is the current Italy head coach?
The current Italy head coach is Gonzalo Quesada. He’s held the position since January 2024.
Who is the captain of Italy?
The current captain of Italy is Michele Lamaro.
Why are Italy called the Azzurri in rugby?
Italy's rugby team is called Gli Azzurri (‘The Blues’) because they wear blue shirts.
When was the Italy national rugby team founded?
The Italy national rugby team was founded in 1929. The team played in their first ever international fixture in the same year. They were defeated by Spain 9-0 in Barcelona.
What is Italy’s biggest defeat in rugby union?
Italy’s biggest defeat in rugby union came in 1999. They were defeated 101-0 by South Africa in Durban.
Who has scored the most points for Italy?
Diego Domínguez is Italy’s top point-scorer. He scored 983 points for Italy between 1991 and 2003.
Who holds the record for most caps for Italy?
The legendary Sergio Parisse holds the record for the most caps for Italy. He made 142 appearances for Italy between 2002 and 2019.
What is Italy’s record against France?
Since the first meeting between the sides in 1937, Italy and France have faced each other on 52 occasions. France have won 48 of these clashes, while Italy have won 3. One match ended in a draw.
Have Italy ever won a Six Nations Grand Slam?
No, Italy have never won the Six Nations Grand Slam. In fact, they’ve never won the tournament.
Who is Italy’s all-time leading try scorer?
Marcello Cuttitta is Italy’s all-time leading try-scorer with 26.
What is Italy’s best Rugby World Cup result?
Italy’s best Rugby World Cup result is the pool stage. They’ve qualified for every edition of the tournament but have never reached the knockout phase.
Where do Italy play their home rugby matches?
Italy play their home matches at the Stadio Olimpico.
What colours do Italy play in rugby?
Italy traditionally play in 'Savoy blue' jerseys, white shorts and Savoy blue socks when playing at home. When a change strip is required, these colours are inverted.
Who are the most famous Italian rugby players?
Sergio Parisse is widely regarded as Italy’s best and most famous rugby player. However, a host of famous players have represented Italy over the years, including props Andrea Lo Cicero and Massimo Cuttitta, and current stars like fly-half Paolo Garbisi and flanker Sebastian Negri.
