Not all days are the same. Some are carved into history like milestones along the ancient Roman roads. At the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on 7 March 2026, the Italian national rugby team made history in front of nearly seventy thousand spectators, defeating England for the first time ever with a final score of 23–18.
Not just a victory, but a watershed moment for Italian rugby—one that also bears the faces and determination of several Zebre Parma players: Lorenzo Pani, Alessandro Fusco, Momo Hasa and Tommaso Di Bartolomeo. During the 2026 Six Nations, Zebre representatives Samuele Locatelli, David Odiase, Giacomo Da Re, Giulio Bertaccini, Damiano Mazza and Matteo Canali also had their chance to make their mark.
On an early March Saturday afternoon, Rome turns Azzurro and the Italian rugby community rallies around the 23 warriors who take the field. A hazy sky and mild temperatures frame a match charged with intensity: Italy is chasing a historic feat. Rugby fans fill the streets and squares of the capital as they do on the biggest occasions. The road leading to the stadium is a boiling sea of people: Via dei Gladiatori becomes the perfect meeting point for supporters united by their pure passion for rugby.
The pre-match tension is only partially eased by news of an entertaining first half between Scotland and France. An hour before kick-off, the teams come out for the warm-up. The atmosphere feels almost surreal: the music echoing around the stadium masks a silence that speaks volumes about the importance of the occasion. The English presence is strong and clearly audible. Italian fans answer with the chant “Italia, Italia, Italia.”
The two teams make their official entrance: after the English anthem, it is time for *Il Canto degli Italiani*. Every Italian voice sings at full volume, word for word. The final “Sì”, recently restored by President Mattarella, echoes thunderously around the Olimpico, as if to shake off the weight of the moment. Now it is time for the real battle.
The match unfolds like an emotional roller coaster. Early suffering and the cruel blow just before half-time leave a deep emotional mark. Some sigh in frustration, others stare in disbelief at the missed opportunity, others vent their anger. When play resumes, the earlier optimism begins to fade. Doubt creeps in that the dream might slip away entirely—but hope is reignited first by Underhill’s yellow card and then by Garbisi’s successful kicks at goal, bringing Italy back within two points at 16–18.
The atmosphere heats up. The turning point arrives with the yellow card shown to England captain Itoje. Now the Olimpico truly believes, and from the stands the shift in momentum is unmistakable. Fusco’s accurate kicks and Marin’s try begin to hint at the realization of a result never experienced before. England collapse emotionally, while the Italians hold firm until the final whistle—sealed by Alessandro Fusco’s clearing kick into touch.
The dream has become reality. Experts and fans alike know they have witnessed a day destined to be written into the annals of rugby history. Tears, embraces and cries of liberation confirm that it is all true. The disbelief and joy of the protagonists seal the completion of an extraordinary feat. The Italian rugby community is swept away in a flood of emotions.
A standing ovation for the Azzurri.
(From our correspondent Luca Lottici - Zebre Parma Press Office)