Two weeks out from the start of the URC season, Zebre Parma have announced a new addition to their coaching staff, with Gilberto Pavan joining Massimo Brunello’s team as assistant coach.
Pavan arrives after two successful seasons in charge of Rugby Viadana in Serie A Elite, where he guided the club to back-to-back championship finals — their first in 14 years. Before taking the head coach role, he had already spent four campaigns as assistant coach with the Mantova-based side.
A rugby man through and through, Pavan came through the Benetton Treviso academy, where his father Franco served as a club official for over 20 years, alongside his twin brother Riccardo, now head coach at Tarvisium. After his youth career in Treviso, he played four seasons with Rugby Parma before joining the Aironi franchise in Viadana, competing in the Celtic League. Following the team’s disbandment, he remained at Rugby Viadana until 2021, amassing more than 160 appearances. His coaching journey also began there in 2014, first with the youth system and later with the second team across six seasons.
“I’m excited to contribute to the Zebre Parma project,” said Pavan. “I was immediately impressed by the clarity and ambition of coach Brunello and the new management team. I’ll give my all to help prepare the players for what will be a very important season in the growth of this franchise.”