In a landmark event for Italian rugby, on Saturday 23rd November (20:10 UK time), Italy will play a Test match at Turin's famous Allianz Stadium, home of Serie A giants Juventus, for the first time.
That the match is being held in a venue steeped in history and significance to the Italian public is a testament to the growing prominence and upward trajectory of rugby in the country. It has become a cathedral for sports, hosting numerous high-profile football matches, and is synonymous with greats of the game such as Alessandro del Piero and Zinedine Zidane.
The stadium has also been a stage for global icons in music and entertainment, with artists like Madonna, U2, and Coldplay entertaining audiences within its walls. It is hoped that bringing rugby into this arena will not only elevate the sport's profile in Italy, but also integrate it into the broader cultural and sporting fabric of the nation.
Italian rugby has witnessed a surge in grassroots participation, while its age-grade teams have been increasingly successful in the past few years. These efforts are beginning to bear fruit for the senior team, whose results in recent Guinness Men's Six Nations Championships and Autumn Nations Series have underlined their credentials as serious contenders.
Rising star Tommaso Menoncello was named this year's Guinness Men's Player of the Championship after a stunning campaign under new head coach Gonzalo Quesada, while new defence coach Richard Hodges recently spoke of his confidence in being able to take the side to new levels defensively.
Information on tickets for the Autumn Nations Series match between Italy and New Zealand in Turin will soon be available on Federugby.it. The Azzurri will also face Argentina and Georgia in the run-up to their All Blacks encounter at the Allianz Stadium.
