Italian winger Malik Faissal arrived at Franklin’s Gardens this summer from United Rugby Championship side Zebre, where he made eight appearances and scored three tries in his first season in senior rugby. 

The highly-rated winger made his maiden bow for Zebre against Montauban in this season’s European Challenge Cup and announced himself in some style as he crossed the whitewash after just 24 minutes.

After making his first two Zebre appearances in the Challenge Cup, Faissal – who is known for his pace and flair in attack – made his URC debut just before Christmas, coming off the bench against fellow Italian side Benetton. 

He marked his debut league start with a flourish the following weekend, claiming a first league score against the same opposition, and added four more URC appearances to his tally before departing Italy. 

Faissal – who began playing rugby in Parma at the age of just six – has also featured heavily for Italy’s Under-20s side during his time at Zebre, starting alongside Saints teammate Edoardo Todaro throughout the 2025 Under-20 Six Nations.

The winger took his tally of U20 appearances to ten in a second Six Nations championship in 2026, before earning his first senior cap for the Azzurri in the 2026 Nations Championship as he faced Japan.