Zebre Parma's final fixture before the November international break ended in a 35-14 defeat away to Dragons RFC. With the hosts leading 14-0 at half-time, the visitors crossed for two second-half tries through Matteo Canali and Tobias Wade, both converted by Giacomo da Re. Dragons replied with tries from Fine Inisi and Cai Evans, as well as a penalty try late in the game. Tinus de Beer added four conversions for the Welsh side.
FIRST HALF
Dragons opened the scoring in the 6th minute, with David Richards touching down for the first try of the match. Tinus de Beer added the conversion a minute later to give the hosts a 7-0 lead.
The Welsh side crossed for a second try in the 29th minute, Anzelo Tuitavuki finishing the move. De Beer was again successful from the tee, extending the lead to 14-0 in the 30th minute.
Zebre headed into the break with a 14-point deficit to overturn.
Half-time: Dragons RFC 14-0 Zebre Parma
SECOND HALF
The second half began with a series of changes in the Zebre ranks. Octavio Barbatti replaced Juan Barbotti in the 45th minute, followed by Nick Thomas, who came on for Matthew Screech five minutes later. Two further changes followed in the 53rd minute, with Matteo Canali replacing Francesco Ruffolo and Giovanni Licata coming on for Davide Ruggeri. At the 54-minute mark, Francisco Minervino replaced Giampietro Ribaldi, while Patricio Baronio came on for Thomas Dominguez.
In the 55th minute, Simone Gesi was shown a yellow card. Dragons made the most of their advantage, with Fine Inisi crossing for their third try in the same minute. Tinus de Beer added the conversion in the 56th minute to make it 21-0. The hosts also made two substitutions at that point, with Rodrigo Martinez Manzano replacing Jordan Morris and Brodie Coghlan coming on for Elliot Dee. Sam Scarfe then replaced Evan Minto in the 58th minute.
Dragons made two more changes in the 61st minute, with Owain James replacing Chris Coleman and Morgan Lloyd coming on for Rhodri Williams. Zebre also made a substitution, sending Federico Pisani on in place of Sergio Pelliccioli.
The visitors got on the scoreboard in the 64th minute, when Matteo Canali crossed for Zebre's first try. Giacomo da Re added the conversion in the 65th minute, reducing the deficit to 21-7. Gesi's sin-bin period also came to an end in the 65th minute.
In the 66th minute, Jacopo Botturi replaced Giacomo Ferrari. Two minutes later, Dragons made another double substitution, with Brogan Leary coming on for Anzelo Tuitavuki and Cai Evans replacing Angus O'Brien. Tobias Wade then entered the game in the 69th minute, taking over from Giovanni Montemauri.
Cai Evans scored Dragons' fourth try in the 72nd minute, with De Beer adding the conversion a minute later to make it 28-7.
Zebre had the final say in the closing stages. Tobias Wade crossed for the visitors' second try in the 79th minute, and Giacomo da Re completed the conversion to bring the score to 28-14. However, a penalty try awarded to Dragons in the 80th minute plus two sealed the hosts' 35-14 victory.
Full-time: Dragons RFC 35-14 Zebre Parma
MATCH DETAILS
Dragons RFC 35-14 Zebre Parma
Competition: United Rugby Championship
Round: 5
Date: 31 October 2026
Venue: Rodney Parade, Newport
Kick-off: 18:30
Referee: Griffin Colby
Assistant referees: Craig Evans, Gareth Newman
TMO: Colin Brett
Attendance: 4,358
Scorers
6' try Richards (5-0)
7' conversion de Beer (7-0)
29' try Tuitavuki (12-0)
30' conversion de Beer (14-0)
55' try Inisi (19-0)
56' conversion de Beer (21-0)
64' try Canali (21-5)
65' conversion da Re (21-7)
72' try Evans (26-7)
73' conversion de Beer (28-7)
79' try Wade (28-12)
79' conversion da Re (28-14)
80+2' penalty try (35-14)
Kicking
Tinus de Beer (Dragons RFC) 4/4
Giacomo da Re (Zebre Parma) 2/2
Cards
55' Simone Gesi (Zebre Parma), yellow card.
POTM (Player of the Match): Fine Inisi (Dragons RFC)
DRAGONS RFC
15 Angus O'Brien (68' Evans)
14 David Richards
13 Fine Inisi
12 Joe Westwood
11 Anzelo Tuitavuki (68' Leary)
10 Tinus de Beer
9 Rhodri Williams (61' Lloyd)
8 Harrison Keddie
7 Evan Minto (58' Scarfe)
6 Shane Lewis-Hughes
5 Matthew Screech (50' Thomas)
4 Barny Langton-Cryer
3 Chris Coleman (61' James)
2 Elliot Dee (56' Coghlan)
1 Jordan Morris (56' Manzano)
Replacements:
16 Brodie Coghlan
17 Rodrigo Martinez Manzano
18 Owain James
19 Nick Thomas
20 Sam Scarfe
21 Morgan Lloyd
22 Cai Evans
23 Brogan Leary
Head Coach: Filo Tiatia
ZEBRE PARMA
15 Giovanni Montemauri (69' Wade)
14 Leonardo Sodo Migliori
13 Marco Zanon
12 Riccardo Casarin
11 Simone Gesi
10 Giacomo da Re
9 Thomas Dominguez (54' Baronio)
8 Davide Ruggeri (53' Licata)
7 Bautista Stavile Bravin
6 Giacomo Ferrari (C) (66' Botturi)
5 Leonard Krumov
4 Francesco Ruffolo (53' Canali)
3 Juan Barbotti (45' Barbatti)
2 Giampietro Ribaldi (54' Minervino)
1 Sergio Pelliccioli (61' Pisani)
Replacements:
16 Francisco Minervino
17 Federico Pisani
18 Octavio Barbatti
19 Matteo Canali
20 Jacopo Botturi
21 Patricio Baronio
22 Giovanni Licata
23 Tobias Wade
Head Coach: Massimo Brunello