Lock Sebastian Negri has come out of Africa to play for Italy in the Under 20’s Six Nations Championship.
To enter our fantastic competition to win RBS 6 Nations tickets and witness the magic of the 2014 tournament first-hand click here
The 19-year-old was born in Zimbabwe however, his family late moved to South Africa.
He attended school in Hilton College in Kwa-Zulu Natal. One of the school’s most famous old boys is former Springbok Captain Bob Skinstad.
Negri explains how it was due to his Italian father Janusz, that he has come to play for the Azzuri. He said: “My whole life I have had an Italian passport. My father is Italian from Milano. My father’s whole family is Italian, I have a lot of family in Italy.”
After finishing school, Negri was contracted by Western Province in Cape Town and has played in their Under 19s side. Last summer he took part in his first tournament with the Italy Under 20s.
He added: “I played in the Junior World Trophy with Italy last year. Italy had been relegated from the Junior World Cup in 2012.
“Italy called me to come to a training camp before the Junior World Trophy. I was then called into the squad. We travelled to Chile and we beat Canada in the final, so now for this year we are back in the Junior World Cup.”
As well as facing the challenge of playing rugby in a foreign environment, Negri also has the task to learn Italian. He said: “I am only starting to learn Italian now as my whole life I have been in Africa.
“This is my second tournament with Italy. I am learning now. I am on my way to learning more and more Italian.
“It is a challenge but I am surrounded by really good guys on the team. The coaches are helping me with my Italian. It is a home away from home being part of this team. Sometimes, the language can be a bit of a challenge but I don’t find it too much of an issue.”
After the Six Nations, the plan is for the second row to return to Cape Town to play club rugby and for the Western Province Under-21s.
He also intends to commence long distance studies, adding: “I am starting to study through correspondence in June, that way I can come to Italy and play rugby and study at the same time. If I was enrolled in a university in South Africa, that would close a lot of doors overseas.”
Growing up Negri always had a keen interest in the RBS 6 Nations. He said: “Growing up in South Africa, you have a huge rugby culture and the RBS 6 Nations is a big thing to watch. I would have been especially watching Italy.”
In the past few years, he has had an extra incentive to watch the tournament with the presence of an old family friend playing.
“I have also watched Scotland because my mum’s godson is David Denton,” he added.
“My mum and David’s mum are best friends, so we grew up together. So, I would always watch the RBS 6 Nations to see David. We were very close with David and his family. I sent him a message to wish him good luck for his games and he did the same.”
The emotion can be heard in the young player’s voice when asked what it means for him to play in the Under 20s Six Nations Championship, when he replies simply, “it is a dream to play in the Six Nations.
“Obviously, Italy is still a developing country in rugby. Our aims are to upset some of the teams, to definitely try to get a win over Scotland this weekend and then Ireland two weeks after that.
“We want to compete and give a good account of ourselves but we are also here to beat teams as well.
“In our first match against Wales we were in it at half time but then in the second half we fell apart. We are a good team and we can compete. I definitely think we are getting much better.”
Negri speaks with great enthusiasm of the Italy Under-20s set up. He said: “I have been welcomed here with open arms, I have made such good friends here and everyone in the set up is so friendly and welcoming.
“The coaches and staff are all really good people. I am really happy to be in Italy. One day though, I would love to play against some of my mates in the South African team!”
Visit our official RBS 6 Nations Instagram page to follow all the best images from the Championship
