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2025–26 Benetton Rugby season

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The 2025–26 season was Benetton Treviso's fifth season in the United Rugby Championship, and their 94th season of competitive rugby. Along with competing in the URC and its Scottish–Italian Shield competition, the club also participated in the 2025–26 EPRC Challenge Cup.

Head coachCalum MacRae
PresidentAmerino Zatta
United Rugby Championship13th
Challenge CupQuarter-final
Quick facts Head coach, President ...
Benetton Rugby
2025–26 season
Head coachCalum MacRae
PresidentAmerino Zatta
United Rugby Championship13th
Challenge CupQuarter-final
Top try scorerLeague: Louis Lynagh – 8[1]
All: Louis Lynagh – 10[1]
Top points scorerLeague: Jacob Umaga – 96 [1]
All: Jacob Umaga – 182[1]
Highest home attendance6,327 – RD 16 v Leinster
Lowest home attendance4,806
Average home attendance5,051
Home colours
Away colours
← 2024–25 2026–27 →
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Staff and coaching team

Transfers

Main article: Benetton Rugby

The staff for the 2025–26 season is:[24][25]

More information Benetton Rugby management team ...
Benetton Rugby management team
Sports director Antonio Pavanello
Head coach Marco Bortolami
Assistant coaches Fabio Ongaro
Calum MacRae
Alessandro Troncon
Dewald Senekal
Team manager Enrico Ceccato
Assistant Team manager Corniel Els
Trainers Jim Molony
Alberto Botter
Mario Disetti
Giorgio Da Lozzo
Riccardo Ton
Alessandro Zanni
Alberto Antonelli
Video analysts Nicola Gatto
Mattia Geromel
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Senior squad

For player movements before or during the 2024–25 season, see List of 2024–25 United Rugby Championship transfers § Benetton.
More information Benetton United Rugby Championship squad ...
Benetton United Rugby Championship squad[a]

Props

Hookers

Locks

Back row

Scrum-halves

Fly-halves

Centres

Wings

Fullbacks

(cc) denotes the team co-captains, Bold denotes internationally capped players.
* denotes players qualified to play for Italy on residency or dual nationality.
L denotes a player on loan at the club.
Players and their allocated positions from the Benetton Rugby website.[26]
  1. [a]
    Taking into account signings and departures head of 2024–25 season as listed on List of 2024–25 United Rugby Championship transfers.
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Additional player squad

Benetton Additional Players squad [a][b][c][d][e][f]

Props

Hookers

  • None currently named

Locks

  • New Zealand Jadin Kingi* [d]
  • South Africa Jaco Pretorius* [c]

Back row

Scrum-halves

  • Italy Lorenzo Casilio [a]

Fly-halves

Centres

Wings

  • South Africa Jacques Cloete* [c]
  • Italy Marco Scalabrin [a]

Fullbacks

  • None currently named
(c) denotes the team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped players.
* denotes players qualified to play for Italy on residency or dual nationality.
Players and their allocated positions from the Benetton Rugby website and F.I.R. website.[32][33][34]
  1. [a]
    Academy player on loan to Serie A Elite team Mogliano[27][28]
  2. [b]
    Academy player on loan to Serie A team Rugby Paese
  3. [c]
    Academy player on loan to Serie A team Ruggers Tarvisium
  4. [d]
    Additional player under contract with Serie A Elite team Mogliano[29]
  5. [e]
    Temporary loan to URC team Zebre Parma[30]
  6. [f]
    Additional player on loan to Serie A Elite team Rangers Vicenza[31]

United Rugby Championship

Matches

27 September 2025 (1 BP) Connacht Ireland 26–15 Italy Benetton The Sportsground, Galway  
19:45 Try: Ioane 8' c
Sean Naughton 19' m
Tierney-Martin 46' c
Jansen 73' c
Con: Forde (3) 9', 47', 74'
Cards: Mullins Yellow card 26'		 Report Try: Louis Lynagh 41' m
Garbisi 80+1' c
Con: Umaga 80+2'
Pen: Umaga 16'
Cards: Fekitoa Yellow card 8'
Lamaro Yellow card 44'		 Attendance: 3,928
Referee: Christopher Allison (South Africa)
4 October 2025 Benetton Italy 16–14 Scotland Glasgow Warriors (1 BP) Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso  
17:30 Try: Menoncello 51' c
Con: Umaga 53'
Pen: Umaga (2) 26', 71'
Drop: Smith 80+1'
Cards: Cannone Yellow card 67'		 Report Try: Oguntibeju 19'
McKay 29'
Con: A. Hastings (2) 20', 30'
 Attendance: 4,806
Referee: Ben Connor (Wales)
11 October 2025 (1 BP) Benetton Italy 41–15 South Africa Lions Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso  
15:00 Try: Smith 8' m
Lynagh (4) 14' m, 30' c, 71' c, 80+3'
Ferrari 20' c
Con: Umaga (3) 21', 31', 72'
Smith 80+4'
Pen: Umaga 42'
Cards: Gallo Yellow card 53'
Avaca Yellow card 80'		 Report Try: Ntlabakanye 27' c
Van Vuuren 78' m
Con: Smith 28'
Pen: Smith 2'
Cards: Jonker Yellow card 69'
Horn Yellow card 80'+2		 Attendance: 4,850
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
17 October 2025 (1 BP) Edinburgh Scotland 43–0 Italy Benetton Edinburgh Rugby Stadium  
19:45 Try: van der Merwe 5' c
Richardson (2) 11' c, 57' m
Graham (2) 39' c, 78' m
O'Conor 65' c
Bradbury 73' m
Con: Scott (3) 6', 11', 40'
Thompson 66'
 Report Cards: Fekitoa Yellow card 44'
Garbisi Yellow card 57'		 Attendance: 6,763[35]
Referee: Ben Breakspear (Wales)
25 October 2025 Benetton Italy 16–31 South Africa Stormers Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso  
17:30 Try: Lynagh 30' c
Con: Umaga 31'
Pen: Umaga (3) 15', 18', 35'
 Report Try: Sandi 6' m
Matthee 48' c
Porthen 80' c
Con: Matthee (2) 49', 81'
Pen: Matthee (4) 20', 45', 53', 72'
 Attendance: 4,903
Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
28 November 2025 (1 BP) Ulster Ireland 47–13 Italy Benetton Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast  
19:45 Try: Baloucoune (2) 10' m, 77' c
Kok (2) 21' c, 58' c
Hume 52' c
Sheridan 68' c
Penalty try 63'
Con: Doak (3) 22', 53', 59'
Flannery (2) 68', 78'
 Report Try: Bernasconi 28' c
Con: Umaga 29'
Pen: Umaga (2) 15', 43'
Cards: Ratave Yellow card 63'		 Attendance: 11,517[36]
Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)
20 December 2025 Benetton Italy 21–15 Italy Zebre Parma (1 BP) Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso  
14:00 Try: Mendy 26' c
Gasperini 65' m
Con: Umaga 26'
Pen: Umaga (3) 17', 30', 46'
Cards: Menoncello Yellow card 51'		 Report Try: Ferrari 52' m
Gesi 68' c
Con: Montemauri 69'
Pen: Montemauri 38'
 Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)
27 December 2025 Zebre Parma Italy 23–37 Italy Benetton (1 BP) Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma  
14:30 Try: Gesi 43' c
Faissal 79' c
Con: Da Re 44'
Dominguez 80'
Pen: Da Re (3) 8', 13', 31'
Cards: Ferrari Yellow card 7'
Mazza Yellow card 53'		 Report Try: Mendy 2' c
Penalty try 53'
Odogwu 62' c
Werchon 70' c
Con: Umaga (3) 3', 63', 71'
Pen: Umaga (3) 7', 18', 40+1'
Cards: Lamaro Yellow card 25'		 Attendance: 4,500
Referee: Clara Munarini (Italy)
3 January 2026 (1 BP) Benetton Italy 14–15 Scotland Edinburgh Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso  
17:30 Try: Gallo 52' c
Fekitoa 57' c
Con: Umaga (2/2) 53', 58'
 Report Try: Vellacott 21' c
Graham 48' m
Con: Thompson (1/2) 22'
Pen: Thompson 29'
 Attendance: 4,857
Referee: Peter Martin (Ireland)
24 January 2026 Cardiff Wales 17–8 Italy Benetton Cardiff Arms Park  
19:45 Try: McNally 49' m
Pen: Sheedy (3) 13', 16', 60'
Lloyd 80+1'
Cards: Mann Yellow card 26'		 Report Try: Ruzza 66' m
Pen: Smith 46'
 Attendance: 8,052
Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)
30 January 2026 Benetton Italy 20–20 Wales Scarlets Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso  
19:45 Try: Odogwu 37' c
Garbisi 71' c
Con: Smith 38'
Roger 72'
Pen: Smith (2) 25', 30'
 Report Try: Davies 42' c
Lewis 57' m
Page 75' m
Con: Leggatt-Jones (1/3) 43'
Pen: Leggatt-Jones 15'
 Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
28 February 2026 Dragons Wales 15–15 Italy Benetton Rodney Parade, Newport  
17:30 Try: Douglas 11' c
Inisi 80+1' m
Con: O'Brien 12'
Pen: O'Brien 69'
Cards: Douglas Red card 33'
Inisi Yellow card 39'		 Report Try: Ratave (2) 2' m, 29' m
Gallagher 50' m
Cards: Fekitoa Yellow card 15'		 Attendance: 7,106
Referee: Eoghan Cross (Ireland)
21 March 2026 (1 BP) Benetton Italy 31–19 Wales Ospreys Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso  
15:00 Try: Maile 4' c
Mendy 29' c
Ratave (2) 46' m, 54' m
Umaga 66' c
Con: Umaga (3/5) 5', 30', 67'
Cards: Uren Yellow card 71'
Fekitoa Yellow card 73'		 Report Try: Williams (2) 13' m, 43' c
Davies 80' c
Con: Walsh (2/3) 44', 80'
Cards: Moriarty Yellow card 51' Red card 64'		 Attendance: 4,879
Referee: Ian Kenny (Scotland)
27 March 2026 (1 BP) Glasgow Warriors Scotland 31–10 Italy Benetton Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow  
19:45 Try: Matthews 38' c
Watson 42' c
Williamson 60' m
Stephen 67' m
Talakai 73' c
Con: Hastings 39', 43'
Lancaster 74'
 Report Try: Odogwu 15' c
Con: Smith 16'
Pen: Smith 40+1'
Cards: Odogwu Yellow card 23'		 Attendance: 7,266
Referee: Ben Breakspear (Wales)
18 April 2026 Benetton Italy 15–45 Ireland Munster (1 BP) Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso  
19:45 Try: Bernasconi 32' c
Garbisi 80' m
Con: Umaga (1/2) 52'
Pen: Umaga 28'
 Report Try: Nash 7' c
Farrell 17' m
Coombes 34' c
Kleyn 46' c
Kendellen 56' m
Beirne 59' c
Gleeson 78' c
Con: Crowley 8', 35', 46', 59', 79'
Cards: Crowley Yellow card 63'
Casey Yellow card 66'		 Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
25 April 2026 (1 BP) Benetton Italy 29–26 Ireland Leinster (2 BP) Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso  
19:45 Try: Garbisi 9' m
Mendy 47' c
Gasperini (2) 61' c, 71' c
Con: Umaga (3/4) 48', 62', 72'
Pen: Umaga 80+3'
 Report Try: O'Tighearnaigh 14' c
Van der Flier 36' c
Gibson-Park 43' m
Frawley 66' c
Con: Byrne (2/3) 15', 37'
Prendergast (1/1) 67'
 Attendance: 6,327
Referee: Morné Ferreira (South Africa)
9 May 2026 (1 BP) Sharks South Africa 46–7 Italy Benetton Kings Park Stadium, Durban  
15:00 Try: Van der Merwe (2) 11' m, 40' m
Julius (3) 21' m, 59' c, 62' c
Kolisi 27' m
Esterhuizen 43' c
Bester 80'm
Con: Davids (1/5) 44'
Smith (2/3) 59', 63'
 Report Try: Tizzano 78' c
Con: Garbisi 79'
Cards: Umaga Red card 37'
Bernasconi Yellow card 25'		 Attendance: 11,809
Referee: Ben Breakspear (Wales)
16 May 2026 (1 BP) Bulls South Africa 45–19 Italy Benetton Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria  
15:00 Try: Petersen (2) 4' c, 57' c
le Roux 13' c
Grobbelaar 29' m
Wiese 38' c
Gumede 63' c
Nortjé 75' m
Con: Pollard (5/7) 5', 13', 38', 58', 64'
 Report Try: Lynagh (2) 19' m, 42' c
Smith 40' c
Con: Smith (2/3) 40', 43'
Cards: Garbisi Yellow card 32'		 Attendance: 10,521
Referee: Craig Evans (Wales)

Standings

More information Pos, Pld ...
Pos Team
 Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts Qualification
1 Glasgow Warriors 18 13 0 5 479 338 +141 72 48 11 2 65 Qualification for the Champions Cup and knockout stage
2 Leinster (CH) 18 12 0 6 515 370 +145 77 51 13 2 63
3 Stormers 18 12 1 5 504 344 +160 63 48 9 1 60
4 Bulls (RU) 18 12 0 6 576 406 +170 82 59 10 1 59
5 Munster 18 11 0 7 396 376 +20 59 51 8 3 55
6 Cardiff 18 11 0 7 353 372 −19 52 52 7 4 55
7 Lions 18 10 1 7 532 473 +59 73 70 9 3 54
8 Connacht 18 10 0 8 442 395 +47 62 56 10 4 54
9 Ulster 18 9 1 8 494 420 +74 72 60 10 4 52 Qualification for the Challenge Cup
10 Sharks 18 8 1 9 467 428 +39 71 57 9 3 46
11 Ospreys 18 7 2 9 376 454 −78 55 69 4 3 39
12 Edinburgh 18 7 0 11 362 439 −77 57 66 6 4 38
13 Benetton 18 6 2 10 327 493 −166 41 71 4 1 33
14 Scarlets 18 4 2 12 361 460 −99 52 63 3 5 28
15 Dragons 18 3 4 11 350 481 −131 46 71 4 4 28
16 Zebre 18 2 0 16 312 587 −275 43 85 3 4 15
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Updated to match(es) played on 16 May 2026. Source: UnitedRugby.com
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers for teams tied on points: 1) Number of matches won 2) The difference between points for and points against 3) The number of tries scored 4) The most points scored 5) The difference between tries for and tries against 6) The fewest red cards received 7) The fewest yellow cards received.[37]
More information Team, P ...
2025–26 United Rugby Championship Regional Shield tables view · watch · edit · discuss
Italy Scotland Italian x Scottish Shield
Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TBP LBP Pts Pos overall
1Scotland Glasgow Warriors 650116372+9125941251
2Scotland Edinburgh 6303132120+122017311612
3Italy Benetton 630398141–431019111413
4Italy Zebre Parma 6105130190–60172623916
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:[38]
  1. number of matches won
  2. the difference between points for and points against
  3. the number of tries scored
  4. the most points scored
  5. the difference between tries for and tries against
  6. the fewest red cards received
  7. the fewest yellow cards received
Green background indicates teams currently leading the regional shield. Upon the conclusion of the regular season, these teams win their respective regional shields.

(S) : URC Shield champion

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EPRC Challenge Cup

Pool 2 table

More information Pos, Pld ...
EPCR Challenge Cup Pool 2
Pos Team
 Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts Qualification
1 Italy Benetton (2) 4 4 0 0 182 89 +93 24 11 3 0 19 Home round of 16
2 England Newcastle Red Bulls (6) 4 3 0 1 75 78 −3 11 11 1 0 13
3 Wales Dragons (13) 4 2 0 2 96 148 −52 14 21 1 0 9 Away round of 16
4 France Perpignan (16) 4 1 1 2 111 107 +4 14 14 1 1 8
5 South Africa Lions 4 1 1 2 90 93 −3 11 12 1 1 8
6 France Lyon 4 0 0 4 87 126 −39 13 17 1 2 3
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Source: EPCR[39]
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers for teams tied on points: 1) Number of matches won; 2) Difference between points for and against; 3) Total number of points for; 4) Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams; 5) Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled.

Pool matches

6 December 2025 Lions South Africa 18–26 Italy Benetton Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg  
15:00 Try: Mpeku 37' c
Venter 45' m
Con: Smith (1/2) 38'
Pen: Smith (2/3) 9', 57'
Cards: Mpeku Yellow card 66'		 Report Try: Smith 6' m
Marin 71' c, 75' m
Con: Albornoz (1/2) 72'
Pen: Umaga (1/2) 13'
Albornoz (1/1) 60'
Drop: Albornoz (1/1) 79'
 Attendance: 4,120
Referee: Kevin Bralley (France)
13 December 2025 (1 BP) Benetton Italy 44–31 France Perpignan Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso  
14:00 Try: Odogwu (2) 8' c, 24' c
Izekor 19' c
Bernasconi 49' c
Mendy 59' c
Con: Albornoz (3/3) 9', 19', 25'
Umaga (2/2) 50', 60'
Pen: Albornoz (1/1) 14'
Umaga (2/2) 67', 78'
 Report Try: Duguivalu 21' c
Poulet 34' c
Fahy 63' m
Con: Reus (2/3) 21', 35'
Pen: Reus (4/5) 3', 16', 46', 53'
 Attendance: 4,151
Referee: Ben Connor (Wales)
10 January 2026 (1 BP) Benetton Italy 74–21 Wales Dragons Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso  
18:30 Try: Izekor 14' c
Ratave 18' c
Fekitoa 33' m
Odogwu (2) 37' m, 55' c
Umaga (2) 40' c, 64' c
Lynagh (2) 51' m, 67' c
Marin (2) 75' c, 80+2' c
Con: Umaga (8/11) 15', 19', 41', 56', 65', 68', 75', 80+3'
Pen: Umaga (1/1) 3'
 Report Try: Burrows 29' c
Dyer 58' c
Lewis-Hughes 78' c
Con: De Beer (2/2) 30', 59'
J. Lloyd (1/1) 78'
 Attendance: 3,754
Referee: Benoit Rousselet (France)
18 January 2026 Lyon France 19–38 Italy Benetton (1 BP) Mahmut Stadium, Lyon  
14:00 Try: Parisien (2) 3' c, 7' c
Cretin 58' m
Con: Jackson (2/2) 4', 8'
 Report Try: Maile (2) 20' c, 39' c
Fekitoa 29' c
Ratave 35' c
Spagnolo 62' c
Con: Smith (5/5) 21', 30', 36', 40', 63'
Pen: Smith (1/1) 10'
 Attendance: 14,659
Referee: Sara Cox (England)

Knockout stage

Benetton qualified for a home tie in the round of 16 when they confirmed a top two finish in Pool 2 in Round 3.

Round of 16 Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
            
1 France Montpellier 53
16 France Perpignan 13
1 France Montpellier 45
8 Ireland Connacht 22
8 Ireland Connacht 29
9 South Africa Sharks 12
1 France Montpellier 18
13 Wales Dragons 12
5 Italy Zebre Parma 31
12 France Pau 15
5 Italy Zebre Parma 32
13 Wales Dragons 35
4 France Stade Français 31
13 Wales Dragons 36
1 France Montpellier 59
3 Ireland Ulster 26
3 Ireland Ulster 28
14 Wales Ospreys 24
3 Ireland Ulster 41
11 France La Rochelle 24
6 England Newcastle Red Bulls 18
11 France La Rochelle 26
3 Ireland Ulster 29
7 England Exeter Chiefs 12
2 Italy Benetton 38
15 Wales Cardiff 35
2 Italy Benetton 41
7 England Exeter Chiefs 44
7 England Exeter Chiefs 31
10 Ireland Munster 21

Round of 16

4 April 2026 Benetton Italy (2) 38–35 (15) Wales Cardiff Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso  
18:30 Try: Menoncello (2) 0' c, 41' m
Umaga (2) 2' c, 13' c
Gallo 12' c
Ratave 28' m
Con: Umaga (4/6) 0', 3', 12', 14'
Cards: Umaga Yellow card 45'		 Report Try: Belcher 8' c
Beetham (2) 21' c, 53' c
Lawrence 39' c
Bevan 44' c
Con: Sheedy (5/5) 9', 22', 40', 45', 54'
 Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Kevin Bralley (France)

Quarter-final

12 April 2026 Benetton Italy (2) 41–44 (7) England Exeter Chiefs Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso  
13:30 Try: Cannone 5' c
Umaga (2) 20' c, 65' c
Ratave 37'c
Bernasconi 45' c
Con: Umaga (5/5) 6', 21', 38', 46', 66'
Pen: Umaga (2/2) 42', 63'
Cards: Ratave Yellow card 15'		 Report Try: Woodburn 8' c
Feyi-Waboso 24' c
Skinner 42' c
Zambonin 48' c
Con: Slade (4/4) 9', 25', 43', 49'
Pen: Slade (3/3) 28', 70', 79'
 Attendance: 5,687
Referee: Luc Ramos (France)

References

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