'Huge asset' swaps URC for Premiership
TRANSFER NEWS: Italian loosehead prop Danilo Fischetti will join Northampton Saints ahead of the 2025/26 season, the club announced on Tuesday.
The 27-year-old earned his 50th international cap for Italy during this year’s Six Nations against France, and Fischetti also boasts more than a half-century of appearances for United Rugby Championship side Zebre – where he is currently club captain.
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“For me, it’s very special to be joining Northampton Saints,” said Fischetti.
“I loved my previous spell in the Premiership with London Irish – the competitiveness of the competition and the support from the fans across the league is very good.
“I remember coming into cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens for the first time a few years ago and being blown away by the place, and the way the supporters got behind the team was really crazy.
“I’ve already had some helpful conversations with the coaches at Saints, who showed me where they think I can improve my game, and these are areas which are a big focus for me.
“As a prop, I love getting around the park to make as many tackles and carries as I can, that’s probably my super strength – but of course the set piece is also crucial for me and making sure I am as impactful as possible in that area.
“The opportunity to play for Northampton is incredible. I enjoyed watching the team win the Premiership title last year, and repeating that is a huge target for me – I am coming here to try to win trophies.
“But my first steps are to play well and settle in at the club as best I can, so I am very really looking forward to getting started in Northampton next season.”
Known for his speed and power in the loose as well as for his scrummaging prowess, Fischetti began his professional career with Rugby Calvisano while also gaining age-grade international experience with Italy Under-17s, Under-18s and Under-20s.
A move to Zebre beckoned in 2019, and Fischetti has spent six seasons in Parma in two stints at the club, either side of a move to London Irish for the 2022/23 campaign – where he made 19 appearances in total across the Gallagher Premiership and Investec Champions Cup competitions, before the Exiles were placed into administration.
That Premiership experience was vital for Saints’ Director of Rugby Phil Dowson, who is delighted to be adding Fischetti to his stable of loosehead props for next season.
Dowson said: “Danilo was very much the standout candidate when we looked around at loosehead props to boost our front row options next season.
“He’s an Italian international, captain of his current club, and has experience of playing in the Premiership before from his London Irish days – when he showed he was really capable in this league.
“We loved Danilo’s ability at set piece. He has raw power and athleticism and has had plenty of experience at the international level against some of the best scrums in the world.
“We think he has a huge amount to offer in the loose as well, both in attack and defence, and we are confident we can continue to help him improve so he can have even greater impacts on games. He’ll be a huge asset for us, in terms of being really competitive with some of our other outstanding looseheads as well.
“Danilo also comes with rave reviews from coaches that have worked with him in the past, such as [former Saint] Jon Fisher who coached him at Irish. Danilo himself impressed us hugely when we spoke to him, as he’s ambitious and really wants to have another crack in the Premiership.
“It’s really satisfying to be able to bring in a player of international calibre who is still coming into his prime at 27 years old, so we’re very excited for Danilo to join us at Saints.”
