Premiership
Italians announce squad for Tigers trip
For international scrum-half Alessandro Troncon will take charge of the Italian Select XV squad for their fixture against Leicester Tigers next month.
Troncon, the first Italian to reach 100 Test caps in a career played with Treviso and ASM Clermont Auvergne, leads a squad for the fixture against Tigers as part of a Mattioli Woods Welford Road double header on Saturday, November 5 which also features a women’s league derby fixture.
The squad includes six senior internationals and is selected from Benetton and Zebre players not selected for the Autumn Nations Series alongside younger prospects from their new academies and Italy’s TOP10 league all looking to push their claims within the Azzurri pathway.
The match against the Italian visitors, which kicks off at 1.00pm, will be followed by the Women’s Championship North fixture between Tigers and derby rivals Loughborough Town Ladies at 3.15pm in a first-ever club double header.
Entry is included in season tickets and all areas of the stadium will be open.
Double Header match tickets are on general sale, priced from just £22 adult / £10 under-18s. Book online or by phoning 0116 319 8888 (option 2).
All match tickets, car parking and matchday bus travel purchased for the cancelled Tigers versus Wasps fixture (October 23) will be transferred to this double header. Original tickets remain valid to use at the turnstiles and no new ticket will need to be issued.
Season ticket holders and match ticket purchasers for the original fixture have been emailed full details.
Women’s team season ticket holders will be issued with a code to rebook for the double header following the change of kick-off details. Check your emails from the Leicester Tigers ticket office for full details.
Italian Select XV squad
Filippo Alongi (Benetton Rugby Treviso, 1 Cap)
Mattia Bellini (Benetton Rugby Treviso, 31 Caps)
Giulio Bertaccini (Valorugby Emilia)
Nicolò Casilio (Zebre Rugby Club)
Lorenzo Citton (Rugby Petrarca)
Giacomo Da Re (Benetton Rugby Treviso, 1 Cap)
Filippo Drago (Benetton Rugby Treviso)
Matteo Drudi (Benetton Rugby Treviso)
Lapo Frangini (Us Firenze Rugby 1931)
Simone Gesi (Zebre Rugby Club)
Muhamed Hasa (Zebre Rugby Club)
Alessandro Izekor (Benetton Rugby Treviso)
Leonard Krumov (Zebre Rugby Club)
Marco Manfredi (Zebre Rugby Club)
Giovanni Montemauri (Femi-Cz Rugby Rovigo Delta)
Matteo Nocera (Zebre Rugby Club)
Lorenzo Pani (Zebre Rugby Club)
Nicola Piantella (Benetton Rugby Treviso)
Luca Rizzoli (Zebre Rugby Club)
Davide Ruggeri (Zebre Rugby Club)
Mirco Spagnolo (Rugby Petrarca)
Jacopo Trulla (Zebre Rugby Club, 8 Caps)
Ross Vintcent (Exeter Chiefs)
Andrea Zambonin (Zebre Rugby Club, 2 Caps)
Marco Zanon (Benetton Rugby Treviso, 15 Caps)
Content & Images from – Leicester Tigers Rugby
Sale Sharks have agreed a deal to sign Fiji captain Waisea Nayacalevu from French Top14 side Toulon.
The explosive centre, who starred for his country during the recent World Cup, has signed a one-year contract with an option for a further year.
He will join up with Alex Sanderson’s Sharks squad ahead of the start of the 2024/25 Gallagher Premiership season.
Waisea, 33, said: “I’ve watched the Premiership for a long time and it’s always been in the back of my mind that I would love to play there one day and experience rugby in England.
“Now that opportunity has arrived and I’m really, really happy and grateful. I’m so excited to get over there and join the boys and see how I can contribute to the team.
“I have spoken to Telusa Veainu and he only has positive things to say about the club and about Manchester.
“I’m looking forward to playing with some of the guys I’ve played against, like Tom Curry and George Ford. But I also know there are a lot of really talented young players in the Sale Sharks squad and I’m excited to share my experience and help them develop as much as I can.
“I told Alex that it’s what I’ve been doing for the last few years of my career and it’s something I’m passionate about.”
Nayacalevu, who stands at 6’4” and weighs in at 16st 7lb, spent ten years at Top14 side Stade Français before making the switch to Toulon in 2022.
He has won 34 caps for Fiji, slotting in at both centre and on the wing, and captained his country at last year’s World Cup, where the Pacific Islanders made the quarter-finals, losing 30-24 to England in Marseille.
He also famously scored for Fiji in their memorable pre-World Cup win against England at Twickenham.
Images & Content from Sale Sharks Rugby
Phil Brantingham to join Saracens
Prop-forward Phil Brantingham will leave Newcastle Falcons in the summer to join Saracens.
The 22-year-old has played 25 games for his home town club, and leaves with the thanks and best wishes of everyone at the Falcons.
Chairman of rugby Matt Thompson said: “Phil has done well for us and we made him a good offer to stay here.
“We respect his decision and wish him all the best for his move in the summer, but between now and then he will be fully committed to finishing the season strongly for Newcastle Falcons.”
Source – Newcastle Falcons Rugby
Sale Sharks can confirm that forward Cobus Wiese will leave the club at the end of the season to return to South Africa.
The 26-year-old lock has played almost 80 games for the club and scored five tries since joining from the DHL Stormers ahead of the 2020/21 season.
He played a key role last year as Sale reached the Premiership final, and this season he has featured a further 13 times for Alex Sanderson’s side.
Alex said: “Cobus will be missed by all of us on so many levels. He’s the most polite and courteous of people off the field, but the most wildly excitable man on the field, and on a night out.
“To say Cobus wears his heart on his sleeve is to do him a disservice with regards to his emotional commitment for which his body has paid the price on occasion.
“He leads by example and has earnt the respect and adoration of the group both on a professional and a personal level. We wish him every success and happiness with his move back home.”
Everyone at Sale Sharks would like to thank Cobus for his contribution to the club and the team during his time here and we wish him all the very best for the future.
Images & Content from Sale Sharks Rugby
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