Northampton Saints’ Edoardo Todaro has been named in Italy‘s starting line-up for their upcoming clash against Ireland at the World Rugby U20 Championship.
The 18-year-old starts at fullback for the Azzuri for the second time in the competition – with Italy having opened their campaign with a 14-5 loss to New Zealand on Sunday.
This weekend’s clash sees Italy take on current Pool C leaders Ireland, and Todaro’s side will need a victory to keep their play-off hopes alive.
Ahead of the clash Italy head coach Roberto Santamaria said: “The focus of the week was mainly on recovery: this competition has you play every five days and with this heat we had to focus mainly on physical recovery, but also mental.
“Ireland is a team we know well, that offers important challenges and that knows how to play excellent rugby, in every aspect. The last game of the Six Nations left them bitter, because for the first time we managed to beat Ireland.
“At this level the opportunities are not infinite: we must improve in this and exploit the opportunities that we create or that the opponents leave us.”
Italy U20 team to face Ireland U20
Stadio Luigi Zaffanella, Viadana
Friday 4 July, 2025
Kick-off: 7.30pm (BST)
15 Edoardo Todaro – Northampton Saints
14 Alessandro Drago – Mogliano Veneto Rugby
13 Federico Zanandrea – Mogliano Veneto Rugby
12 Riccardo Casarin – Amatori & Union Rugby Milano
11 Jules Ducros – Montpellier Hérault Rugby
10 Roberto Fasti – Rugby Casale
9 Niccolò Beni – Biarritz Olympique
1 Sergio Pelliccioli – Rugby Petrarca Padova
2 Nicolò Michele Corvasce – S.S. Lazio Rugby 1927
3 Nicola Bolognini – Rugby Badia 1981
4 Mattia Midena – Rugby Paese
5 Piero Gritti – ASM Clermont Auvergne
6 Giacomo Milano (Cap) – Rugby Noceto
7 Carlo Antonio Bianchi – Unione Rugby Firenze
8 Nelson Casartelli – Rugby Paese
Replacements:
16 Alessio Caiolo‑Serra – Stade Olympique Chambérien Rugby
17 Sascha Mistrulli – FC Grenoble
18 Luca Trevisan – Golden Lions (South Africa)
19 Enoch Opoku‑Gyamfi – Bath Rugby Academy
20 Antony Italo Miranda – Rugby Paese
21 Matteo Bellotto – Mogliano Veneto Rugby
22 Riccardo Ioannucci – Rugby Petrarca Padova
23 Gianmarco Pietramala – Unione Rugby Firenze
