2025–26 Zebre Parma season

Zebre Parma
Full nameZebre Parma
Union Federazione Italiana Rugby
NicknameThe XV of the North-West (il XV del Nord-Ovest)
Founded1973 (as Invitational Team – disbanded in 1997)
2012 (2012) (as Professional Team)
LocationParma, Italy
Ground(s)Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma (Capacity: 5,000)
PresidentGianni Fava
CoachMassimo Brunello
CaptainGiovanni Licata
LeagueUnited Rugby Championship
1st kit
2nd kit
Official website
www.zebreparma.it

The 2025–26 season is Zebre Parma's fifth season in the United Rugby Championship, and their 14th season of professional rugby. Along with competing in the URC and its Scottish-Italian Shield competition, the club will also participate in the 2025–26 EPCR Challenge Cup.

Senior Squad

Zebre Parma United Rugby Championship squad[a]

Props

Hookers

Locks

Back row

Scrum-halves

Fly-halves

Centres

Wings

Fullbacks

(c) denotes the team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped players.
* denotes players qualified to play for Italy on residency or dual nationality.
Players and their allocated positions from the Zebre Parma website.[1]
  1. ^ Taking into account signings and departures head of 2025–26 season as listed on List of 2025–26 United Rugby Championship transfers.

Additional player squad

Zebre Parma Additional Players squad[a][b][c][d][e][f][g]

Props

  • None currently named

Hookers

  • None currently named

Locks

  • Davide Salvan[d]

Back row

  • Giacomo Milano[b]

Scrum-halves

Fly-halves

  • None currently named

Centres

  • Daniele Coluzzi[f]

Wings

  • Alessandro Ciofani[c]
  • Marcello Cortellazzi[e]
  • Tommaso Roda[f]

Fullbacks

  • Aramis Corona[a]
  • Giovanni Degli Antoni[f]
  • Edoardo Vitale[f]
(c) denotes the team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped players.
* denotes players qualified to play for Italy on residency or dual nationality.
Players and their allocated positions from the Zebre Rugby and F.I.R. website.[2][3]
  1. ^ a b Additional player under contract with Serie A Elite team Colorno
  2. ^ a b Academy player on loan to Serie A team Noceto
  3. ^ a b Additional player under contract with Serie A Elite team Viadana
  4. ^ a b Additional player under contract with Serie A team Calvisano
  5. ^ a b Additional player under contract with Serie A team Rugby Parabiago
  6. ^ a b c d e f Additional player selected for F.I.R. Academy
  7. ^ a b Additional player under contract with Serie A Elite team Valorugby Emilia

Transfers


United Rugby Championship

Matches

27 September 2025 (1 BP) Zebre Parma 31 – 28 Edinburgh (2 BP) Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma  
15:05 Try: D Bartolomeo (3')
Pitinari (12')
Gesi (34')
Fusco (44')
Con: Da Re(4', 13', 35', 45')
Pen: Roger (79')
Try: McConnell (17')
Bradbury (23')
Velacott (50')
Harrison (75')
Con: Healy (18', 24', 51', 76')
Cards: Licata
Pitinari 64' to 74'
Attendance: 2 276
Referee: Ben Whitehouse
5 October 2025 Zebre Parma 22 – 20 Lions (1 BP) Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma  
14:00 Try: Stavile (12')
Di Bartolomeo (35')
Nocera (79')
Con: da Re (36')
Roger (80')
Pen: Roger (64')
Report Try: Kotze (52')
Keyter (56')
Brandon (74')
Con: Dobela (75')
Pen: CW Smith (17')
Attendance: 2,175
Referee: Craig Evans
11 October 2025 Ospreys 24 – 0 Zebre Parma Brewery Field, Bridgend  
15:00 Try: Cokanasiga (15')
Morse (18')
Ratti (74')
Con: D. Edwards (16', 18', 75')
Pen: D. Edwards (59')
Report Attendance: 4,519
Referee: Eoghan Cross
18 October 2025 Zebre Parma 13 – 31 Stormers (1 BP) Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma  
19:45 Try: Belloni, (20')
Con: da Re (21')
Pen: da Re (63', 67')
Cards: Nocero  59'
Report Try: de Villiers (6')
Feinberg-Mngomezulu, (37', 46')
Gelant, (58')
Nel (80')
Con: Feinberg-Mngomezulu, (38', 58', 80'+1)
Attendance: 2,176
Referee: Andrew Brace
25 October 2025 (1 BP) Leinster 50 – 26 Zebre Parma (1 BP) Aviva Stadium, Dublin  
17:30 Try: Kenny (2' c, 27' c)
Soroka (7' m, 12' c)
Cahir (48' c)
Byrne (55' m)
Snyman (68' c)
Connors (78' m)
Con: (2', 13', 27', 49', 69')
Cards: A Osborne  30'
Report
Scoreboard
Highlights
Try: Belloni (10' c)
Dominguez (20' c)
Quattrini (32' c)
Marco Zanon (73' m)
Con: da Re (11', 21', 33')
Cards: Dominguez  37'
Attendance: 14,128[28]
Referee: Ian Kenny
29 November 2025 Zebre Parma 14 – 29 Cardiff (1 BP) Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma  
13:00 Try: Licata (30' c)
Zanon (74' c)
Con: Roger (2/2) (31', 74')
Cards: Licata 16' to 26'
Ruggeri 49' to 59'
Zanon 82' to f.t.'
Report Try: Hughes (13' c, 18' m, 40' c)
Basham (80+3' c)
Con: Lloyd (2/3) (19', 41')
Wilde (1/1) (80+4')
Pen: Lloyd (48')
Cards: Basham 69' to 79'
Attendance: 2,392
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
20 December 2025 Benetton v Zebre Parma Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso  
14:00
27 December 2025 Zebre Parma v Benetton Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma  
14:30
3 January 2026 Glasgow Warriors v Zebre Parma Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow  
19:45
24 January 2026 Zebre Parma v Glasgow Warriors Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma  
19:45
31 January 2026 Zebre Parma v Connacht Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma  
15:00
28 February 2026 Munster v Zebre Parma Thomond Park, Limerick  
17:30
20 March 2026 Scarlets v Zebre Parma Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli  
19:45
28 March 2026 Zebre Parma v Ulster Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma  
19:45
17 April 2026 Edinburgh v Zebre Parma Edinburgh Rugby Stadium  
19:45
24 April 2026 Zebre Parma v Dragons Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma  
19:45
9 May 2026 Bulls v Zebre Parma Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria  
12:45
16 May 2026 Sharks v Zebre Parma Kings Park Stadium, Durban  
12:45

Standings

Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts Qualification
1 Stormers 7 7 0 0 218 87 +131 27 10 4 0 32 Qualifies for home URC quarter-final;
Qualification for the 2026–27 Champions Cup
2 Munster 7 6 0 1 172 126 +46 25 19 4 1 29
3 Cardiff 7 5 0 2 157 122 +35 24 16 4 2 26
4 Glasgow Warriors 7 5 0 2 185 99 +86 26 12 4 1 25
5 Ulster 6 4 0 2 202 140 +62 29 20 5 1 22 Qualifies for URC quarter-final;
Qualification for the 2026–27 Champions Cup
6 Leinster 7 4 0 3 174 166 +8 27 23 4 1 21
7 Lions 7 3 0 4 203 212 −9 27 30 3 2 17
8 Bulls 7 3 0 4 184 211 −27 26 30 3 0 15
9 Connacht 5 2 0 3 120 91 +29 17 13 3 3 14 Qualification for the 2026–27 Challenge Cup
10 Benetton 7 3 0 4 122 191 −69 13 28 1 0 13
11 Edinburgh 6 2 0 4 140 112 +28 22 18 2 3 13
12 Sharks 7 2 1 4 134 192 −58 20 24 2 0 12
13 Zebre Parma 7 2 0 5 121 203 −82 16 29 2 1 11
14 Scarlets 6 2 0 4 102 143 −41 12 19 0 0 8
15 Ospreys 7 1 1 5 137 185 −48 20 28 1 1 8
16 Dragons 6 0 2 4 84 175 −91 11 26 0 1 5
Updated to match(es) played on 19 December 2025. Source: UnitedRugby.com
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers for teams tied on points: 1) Number of matches won 2) The difference between points for and points against 3) The number of tries scored 4) The most points scored 5) The difference between tries for and tries against 6) The fewest red cards received 7) The fewest yellow cards received.[29]


2025–26 United Rugby Championship Regional Shield tables
Italian x Scottish Shield
Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TBP LBP Pts Pos overall
1 Edinburgh 2 1 0 1 71 31 +40 11 4 2 1 7 10th
2 Zebre Parma 1 1 0 0 31 28 +3 4 4 1 0 5 4th
3 Benetton 2 1 0 1 16 57 -41 1 9 0 0 4 9th
4 Glasgow Warriors 1 0 0 1 14 16 -2 2 1 0 1 1 6th
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:[30]
  1. number of matches won
  2. the difference between points for and points against
  3. the number of tries scored
  4. the most points scored
  5. the difference between tries for and tries against
  6. the fewest red cards received
  7. the fewest yellow cards received
Green background indicates teams currently leading the regional shield. Upon the conclusion of the regular season, these teams win their respective regional shields.

(S) : URC Shield champion

EPRC Challenge Cup

Pool 1 table

EPCR Challenge Cup Pool 1
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts Qualification
1 Montpellier 2 2 0 0 55 20 +35 9 2 2 0 10 Home round of 16
2 Ospreys 2 2 0 0 57 43 +14 9 6 2 0 10
3 Connacht 2 1 0 1 73 24 +49 11 4 1 1 6
4 Zebre Parma 2 1 0 1 48 48 0 6 7 1 0 5 Away round of 16
5 Montauban 2 0 0 2 39 74 −35 5 10 0 0 0
6 Black Lion 2 0 0 2 13 76 −63 1 11 0 0 0
Source: EPCR[31]
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers for teams tied on points: 1) Number of matches won; 2) Difference between points for and against; 3) Total number of points for; 4) Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams; 5) Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled.

Pool matches

6 December 2025
21:00
(1 BP) Zebre Parma 41–17 Montauban
Try: Faissal 25' c
Stavile 28' c
Ribaldi 44' c
Gesi 57' c
Fusco 62' c
Con: Roger (5/5) 26', 28', 45', 58', 63'
Pen: Roger(10')
Da Re (1/1) 76'
ReportTry: Ahmed 42' c
Pacolo 50' c
Con: Bosviel (2/2) 43', 51'
Pen: Bosviel (1/1) 13'
Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma
Attendance: 1,302
Referee: Ben Connor (Wales)
12 December 2025
21:00
(1 BP) Montpellier 31–7 Zebre Parma
Try: Moustin 20' m
Masibaka (2) 28' m, 66' c
Tauleigne 61' c
Verhaeghe 71' c
Con: Miotti (3/5) 62', 67', 72'
ReportTry: Licata 10' c
Con: Montemauri (1/1) 11'
GGL Stadium, Montpellier
Attendance: 7,771
Referee: Peter Martin (Ireland)

Home attendance

after Round 4

Domestic league European rugby Overall attendance
League Fixtures Attendance League Fixtures Attendance Total Average
Total Average Highest Lowest Total Average Highest Lowest
2025–26 United Rugby Championship 5 9,019 2,254 2,392 2,175 2025–26 EPCR Challenge Cup 1 1,302 1,302 1,302 1,302 10,321 2,064

References

  1. ^ "Giocatori". Zebre Parma. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  2. ^ "Primo test per le Zebre, amichevole al Matmut Stadium di Lione". Zebre Parma (in Italian). 28 August 2025. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
  3. ^ "Quattro giovani prospetti entrano nelle Accademie di Franchigia dal 2024/25". F.I.R. Rugby (in Italian). 29 March 2024. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  4. ^ "Francesco Ruffolo sarà un giocatore delle Zebre dalla stagione 2025/26" [Francesco Ruffolo will be a Zebre player from the 2025/26 season]. www.zebreparma.it (in Italian). Retrieved 5 May 2025.
  5. ^ "Highly-rated Italy U20 captain David Odiase leaves France for Italian return". Rugby Pass. 19 May 2025. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
  6. ^ "Giulio Bertaccini alle Zebre dalla stagione 2025/26". www.zebreparma.it (in Italian). Retrieved 28 May 2025.
  7. ^ "Le Zebre si assicurano Albert Einstein Batista per la stagione 2025/26" [Zebre sign Albert Einstein Batista for the 2025/26 season]. www.zebreparma.it (in Italian). Retrieved 9 June 2025.
  8. ^ "Le Zebre si assicurano l'MVP della Serie A Elite Maschile 2024/25: Mirko Belloni vestirà gialloblu dalla prossima stagione" [Zebre secure the MVP of the 2024/25 Men's Serie A Elite: Mirko Belloni will wear yellow and blue from next season]. www.zebreparma.it (in Italian). Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  9. ^ "Samuele Locatelli nella rosa delle Zebre dalla stagione 25/26" [Samuele Locatelli in the Zebre squad from the 25/26 season] (in Italian). Zebre Parma.it. 30 June 2025. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  10. ^ "Zebre Parma sign Italy qualified fly-half Martin Roger Farias". www.rugbypass.com. 4 July 2025. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  11. ^ Palma, Francesco (4 July 2025). "Rugby - Altro ritorno in Italia: alle Zebre arriva anche Alessandro Ortombina" [Another return to Italy: Alessandro Ortombina also arrives at Zebre]. On Rugby (in Italian). Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  12. ^ "Marco Zanon è un nuovo giocatore delle Zebre Parma per la stagione 2025-26" [Marco Zanon is a new Zebre Parma player for the 2025-26 season]. Zebre Parma.it. 29 July 2025. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  13. ^ "Franco Carrera in arrivo dall'Argentina, un gigante di due metri per la seconda linea" [Franco Carrera arrives from Argentina, a two-meter giant for the second line]. www.zebreparma.it (in Italian). Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  14. ^ a b "URC: la rosa completa delle Zebre per la stagione 2025-26". on rugby (in Italian). 11 September 2025. Retrieved 11 September 2025.
  15. ^ "Colpo Zebre: arriva il tallonatore Shilo Klein, nazionale USA". www.zebreparma.it (in Italian). Retrieved 20 October 2025.
  16. ^ "Zebre Parma: arriva il pilone argentino "Kike" Pieretto" [Zebre Parma: the Argentine prop "Kike" Pieretto arrives]. www.zebreparma.it (in Italian). Retrieved 18 December 2025.
  17. ^ Vickers, Tom (8 April 2025). "'Rave reviews' - Saints confirm signing of Italy prop Fischetti". Northampton Chronicle and Echo. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
  18. ^ "Andrea Zambonin: Exeter sign Italy lock for 2025-26 season". BBC Sport. 1 May 2025. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  19. ^ "Serie A Elite: Valorugby batte il primo colpo, arriva Luca Bigi". onrugby.it. 24 May 2025. Retrieved 26 May 2025.
  20. ^ "Mercato biancorosso ali ed estremi". www.rugbycolorno.com (in Italian). 19 September 2025. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  21. ^ "Explosive Tongan centre Fetuli Paea switches URC clubs". www.rugbypass.com. 2 June 2025. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
  22. ^ "Taniela Tupou joins Lion as two of six internationals signed by Racing 92". Rugby Pass. 8 July 2025. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  23. ^ "Apprenticeship done; White ready to test himself as head coach". Southland Tribune. 7 July 2025. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  24. ^ "Serie A Elite: un nuovo mediano di mischia per il Rugby Viadana". OnRugby. 11 July 2025. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
  25. ^ "Serie A Elite: Il Valorugby ritrova un volto noto per rinforzare il pacchetto di mischia". OnRugby. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
  26. ^ "Le nuove Fiamme per la stagione 2025-2026". Fiamme Oro Rugby. 27 August 2025. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
  27. ^ "I diavoli mettono Samuele Taddei in prima linea" [The devils put Samuele Taddei on the front line] (in Italian). Valorugby.it. 19 September 2025. Retrieved 19 September 2025.
  28. ^ Glennon, Michael (25 October 2025). "Leinster shake off lively Zebre challenge for bonus win". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  29. ^ "Competition rules – United Rugby Championship". United Rugby Championship. Archived from the original on 22 September 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
  30. ^ League Format (3) "Competition Rules". United Rugby Championship. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  31. ^ "Pool Tables | EPCR Challenge Cup". European Professional Club Rugby. Retrieved 2 July 2024.