Italy national rugby union team
| Nickname | Gli Azzurri (The Blues) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Union | Italian Rugby Federation | ||
| Head coach | Gonzalo Quesada | ||
| Captain | Michele Lamaro | ||
| Most caps | Sergio Parisse (142) | ||
| Top scorer | Diego Domínguez (983) | ||
| Top try scorer | Marcello Cuttitta (26) | ||
| Home stadium | Stadio Olimpico | ||
| |||
| World Rugby ranking | |||
| Current | 10 (as of 15 March 2025) | ||
| Highest | 8 (2007, 2024) | ||
| Lowest | 15 (2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021) | ||
| First international | |||
| Spain 9–0 Italy (Barcelona, Spain; 20 May 1929) | |||
| Biggest win | |||
| Italy 104–8 Czech Republic (Viadana, Italy, 18 May 1994) | |||
| Biggest defeat | |||
| South Africa 101–0 Italy (Durban, South Africa, 19 June 1999) | |||
| World Cup | |||
| Appearances | 10 (first in 1987) | ||
| Best result | Pool stage (1987, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023) | ||
| Website | federugby.it | ||
The Italy national rugby union team, nicknamed Gli Azzurri, represents Italy in men's international rugby union. They are administered by Italian Rugby Federation (FIR). Savoy blue is the common colour of the national teams representing Italy, as it is the traditional colour of the royal House of Savoy which reigned over the Kingdom of Italy from 1860 to 1946.
Italy has played international rugby since 1929, and for decades was considered one of the best European teams outside the Five Nations Championship. Since 2000, Italy has competed annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. In 2013, they were holders of the Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy which is played annually between Italy and France. Italy is ranked 10th in the world by the IRB as of 15 March 2025.
Italian rugby rose to prominence in 2000 when it was added to the Five Nations, creating the Six Nations. Initially on the receiving end of some heavy defeats, as their 'golden generation' led by Diego Dominguez had aged out just before their ascension to the competition, the side grew in competitiveness. Following a period in the doldrums in which their continued participation was questioned, in 2022 the team beat Wales for their first win in 36 games. Italy has also since defeated Scotland and England, with New Zealand being the only major team Italy has yet to beat.
Italy have competed at every Rugby World Cup since the first tournament in 1987, where Italy played the inaugural game against New Zealand, but they are yet to progress beyond the first round. The team has developed a reputation for being a consistent 'middle man' at the tournament. Italy's results, since the inception of a new group stage formula in 2003, have consistently followed a pattern of two comfortable wins against Tier 2 teams and two comfortable losses against Tier 1 ones (although in 2019, the match against New Zealand was cancelled due to Typhoon Hagibis and a draw was awarded as result).
From 2026, as a Six Nations team, the Italians will compete biennially in a third competition, the Nations Championship, replacing summer and end-of-year international rugby matches with a structured cross-continental competition.
The current head coach is Gonzalo Quesada and the captain is currently Michele Lamaro.