Italy name new captain ahead of November Tests
NEWS: Michele Lamaro has been named Italy’s new captain, the Italian Rugby Federation announced on Monday, as the Azzurri prepare for a daunting clash with New Zealand in their opening November Test match.
The Benetton flank will lead Italy in three matches next month against the All Blacks, Argentina and Uruguay all at the Stadio Olimpico in Lamaro’s home town of Rome.
The Test series will be the first set of matches under the tutelage of new coach Kieran Crowley, who Lamaro played for at Benetton.
“It’s a great honour for me to named captain,” Lamaro said in a statement.
“My first thought after receiving the news from Kieran Crowley was to my family and all the people who have supported me over the years.”
The 23-year-old takes the armband off Luca Bigi, who captained Italy through their most recent Six Nations campaign, in which they lost all five matches and picked up the wooden spoon.
Bigi became captain after Italian rugby legend Sergio Parisse stepped down from the position after the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
