Italy national under-20 rugby union team

The Italy national under-20 rugby union team has competed in both the IRB Junior World Championship and IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy. They were one of four teams relegated in 2009 to the Junior World Trophy after finishing at the bottom of the tournament. They were again promoted to the 2011 IRB Junior World Championship after winning the 2010 IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy.

Italy under-20

Union	Italian Rugby Federation
Nickname(s)	Azzurrini
Coach(es)	Massimo Brunello
Team kit Change kit
First international
Ireland 6-0 Italy (1 February 2008)
Largest win
Italy 43-3 Scotland (1 July 2021)
Largest defeat
South Africa 65–3 Italy (9 June 2009)
World Cup
Appearances	8 (First in 2008)
Best result	8th 2017,2018

Italy finished in last place at the 2012 IRB Junior World Championship and had again been relegated to the Junior World Trophy for 2013. Then they won the 2013 IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy so Italy participated in the 2014 IRB Junior World Championship that was played in New Zealand.

Squad

Squad to the 2024 World Rugby U20 Championship^[1]

ASCARI Davide (2004, Colorno) | Prop BELLONI Luca (2004, Verona Rugby) | BELLONI Mirko (2004, Rovigo Delta) | Wing BELLUCCI Luca (2004, Roma Olimpic) | Flanker BOLOGNINI Nicola (2005, Rovigo Delta) BOTTURI Jacopo (2004, Petrarca) | Flanker – Captain BOZZO Nicola (2004, USA Perpignan) | Centre BRISIGHELLA Simone (2004, Viadana/Zebre Academy) | Fly-half CASARTELLI Nelson (2005, Benetton Academy) CASILIO Lorenzo (2004, Rangers Vicenza/Benetton Academy) | Scrum-half DE VILLIERS Patrick (2004, Rugby Noceto FC) | Centre ELETTRI Lorenzo (2004,Rovigo Delta)) | Centre FUSARI Ferdinando (2004, Roma Olimpic) | Centre GASPERINI Nicholas (2004, Mogliano) | Hooker GENTILE Francesco (2005, Mogliano) | Centre GRITTI Piero (2005, Clermont) | Lock IMBERTI Francesco (2004, CUS Torino) | Fullback JIMENEZ Mattia (2004, Petrarca) | Scrum-half MIDENA Mattia (2005, Rugby Paese/Benetton Academy) | Lock MILANO Giacomo (2005, UR Capitolina/Zebre Academy) | Flanker MIRENZI Samuele (2004, VII Rugby Torino/Zebre Academy) | Lock PADOAN Vittorio (2004, Casale Rugby) | Hooker PELLICCIOLI Sergio (2005, Lyons Piacenza) | Prop PISANI Federico (2004, Mogliano) | Prop PUCCIARELLO Martino (2004, CUS Milano Rugby) | Fly-half REDONDI Tommaso (2005, Verona Rugby) | Lock SARI Giulio (2005, Oyonnax) SCALABRIN Marco (2004, Rangers Vicenza/Benetton Academy) | Wing SICILIANO Valerio (2004, Brive) | Hooker ZANANDREA Federico (2005, Mogliano) | Centre ZUCCONI Cesare (2004, Cavalieri Prato Sesto) | Flanker

Management

• Roberto Santamaria - Head coach
• Claudio Appiani - Team manager
• Victor Jimenez - Assistant coach
• Giacomo Vigna - Fitness coach
• Nicola Cordioli - Physiotherapist
• Roberto Alessandrini - Team doctor
• Paolo Granata - Assistant manager
• Niccolo Gaetaniello - Video analyst
• Andrea Nicotra - Committee member

Tournament record

Year	Tournament	Host	Rank	Result
2008	Junior World Championship	Wales	11th
2009	Junior World Championship	Japan	13th	Relegated to 2010 IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy
2010	Junior World Trophy	Russia	1st	Promoted to 2011 IRB Junior World Championship
2011	Junior World Championship	Italy	11th
2012	Junior World Championship	South Africa	12th	Relegated to 2013 IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy
2013	Junior World Trophy	Chile	1st	Promoted to 2014 IRB Junior World Championship
2014	Junior World Championship	New Zealand	11th
2015	Junior World Championship	Italy	11th
2016	Junior World Championship	England	11th
2017	Junior World Championship	Georgia	8th
2018	Junior World Championship	France	8th
2019	Junior World Championship	Argentina	9th
2020	Junior World Championship	Italy		Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2]
2021	Junior World Championship			Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[3]
2022	-			Replaced with Six Nations Summer Series in  Italy
2023	Junior World Championship	South Africa	11th
2024	Junior World Championship	South Africa	10th

F.I.R. Academy

During the regular season, many players of Under-20 are selected to play for F.I.R. Academy "Ivan Francescato" of Parma (from 2018 to 2020 in Remedello, Brescia).^[4] This team played in Italian Serie A, Pool A, until 2021-2021 season.

References

1. "Nazionale Under 20, decisi i 30 per il Mondiale sudafricano: 17 avanti e 13 mediani/trequarti il mix scelto dallo staff per la rassegna iridata".
2. "World Rugby update on COVID-19 response measures and statement from Sir Bill Beaumont". World Rugby. 20 March 2020. Archived from the original on 22 October 2021. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
3. "World Rugby update on COVID-19 response measures and statement from Sir Bill Beaumont". World Rugby. 20 March 2020. Archived from the original on 22 October 2021. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
4. "Accademia Nazionale Ivan Francescato 2020/21".