The Italian XV for the challenge against Japan in their debut Nations Championship match

July 02, 2026
1083
Ultimate Rugby

Gonzalo Quesada, Head Coach of the Italian Men's National Team, has announced the team that will face Japan on Saturday 4 July at 5:40 pm local time (10:40 am Italian time) at the Chichibunomiya Stadium in Tokyo in the Azzurri's opening match in the Nations Championship. The match will be broadcast live on Sky Sport Uno and free-to-air on TV8 and Cielo.

It will be the eleventh meeting between the two teams, with the current record seeing Italy lead with eight wins – including the last precedent in Sapporo in 2024 – against two for Eddie Jones's team.

Two newcomers are making their debuts for the Azzurri in the starting XV: Alessandro Ortombina, back row for Zebre Parma, who grew up with Valpolicella Rugby and has a history in the TOP14, played in the Under-20s alongside some of his current teammates. The second is Malik Faissal, a winger who recently joined Northampton Saints, where he will join Fischetti. Todaro, who grew up with Rugby Parma 1931, has made his mark this season with Zebre and the Under-20 national team, playing in the Six Nations in February and making the leap to the senior national team a few months later in preparation for the Nations Championship.

The expanded triangle will consist of Pani, Ioane, and Faissal. The center pairing of Brex and Menoncello has been consolidated—with the former Benetton center making his 40th appearance—while Paolo Garbisi and Varney will be in charge of the midfield.

The back line—along with captain Lamaro—will feature Lorenzo Cannone and Ortombina. The second line will consist of Zambonin and Niccolò Cannone, while the front line will consist of Fischetti, Di Bartolomeo, and Riccioni.

Ready to come off the bench are Lucchesi, Spagnolo, Hasa, Favretto, Vintcent – returning after the injury that forced him out during the Six Nations – Fusco, Marin and Allan, who with his entry onto the pitch could reach 90 caps for the national team.

The match will be refereed by Australian Nic Berry.

This is the lineup that will take to the field:

15 Lorenzo PANI (Zebre Parma, 12 caps)

14 Malik FAISSAL (Northampton Saints, debutant)

13 Juan Ignacio BREX (Toulon, 52 caps)

12 Tommaso MENONCELLO (Stade Toulousain, 39 caps)

11 Monty IOANE (Lyon, 47 caps)

10 Paolo GARBISI (Toulon, 54 caps)

9 Stephen VARNEY (Exeter Chiefs, 37 caps)

8 Lorenzo CANNONE (Benetton Rugby, 38 caps)

7 Michele LAMARO (Benetton Rugby, 54 caps) – captain

6 Alessandro ORTOMBINA (Zebre Parma, debutant)