Matteo Canali
Italy international rugby union player
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Matteo Canali (Marino, 11 September 1998) is an Italian rugby union player. His usual position is Lock and he currently plays for Zebre Parma in United Rugby Championship.[1]
Canali in March 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 11 September 1998 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Height | 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 118 kg (18 st 8 lb; 260 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Career
Under contract with Rovigo Delta, for 2020–21 Pro14 season, he was named as Permit Player for Benetton Rugby.[2] He played for Petrarca Padova in Italian Top10 from 2021 to 2023.[3] Canali signed for Zebre Parma in August 2023 ahead of the 2023–24 United Rugby Championship. He made his debut in Round 1 of the 2023–24 season against the Ulster.[4]
In 2018, Canali was named in the Italy Under 20 squad.[5] On 14 October 2021, he was selected by Alessandro Troncon to be part of an Italy A 28-man squad and on 8 December, he was named in Emerging Italy 27-man squad for the 2021 end-of-year rugby union internationals.[6][7]
On 28 January 2024, he was named in Italy squad for 2024 Six Nations Championship.[8] He was also named in Italy squad for the 2025 Six Nations Championship as invited player, but did not play during the championship.[9] On 28 January 2026 he was selected by Massimo Brunello to be part of an Italy XV squad for two official tests against Scotland A and Chile during 2026 men's rugby union internationals window of spring.[10].
He was called up to join Italy 2025 Tour of Namibia and South Africa.[11] On 5 July 2025, he made his debut in Pretoria against South Africa.[12]
