URC: Scottish/Italian shield - who's in and out?

SPOTLIGHT: @rugby365com reporter Angus Opperman dives into the squad depth of the URC Scottish and Italian teams.

Benetton:(2023/4 season standing: seventh, finish: losing quarterfinalist)

It’s been an improved season for Benetton who managed 11 wins out of 18 matches to finish seventh for the first time in the URC.

Despite being knocked out in the quarterfinal stage, they have a great foundation to build on for the upcoming 2024/5 season.

Below are the players who have departed the side and those who joined as well.

Players out: Giacomo Da Re (Zebre), Dewaldt Duvenage (Retired), Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, Henry Stowers (both released), Marcus Watson (Retired), Giovanni Pettinelli, Marco Lazzaroni (both Mogliano Veneto), Federico Zani (Retired), Giacomo Nicotera (Stade Francais), Eduardo Padovani ( Mogliano Veneto), Gianmarco Lucchesi (Toulon), Joaquín Riera (Rouen).

Players in:

Louis Lynagh: The Italian international joins Benetton from English Premiership side Harlequins who he represented on 67 occasions between 2019 and 2024.

He joined Benetton for the 2024/5 URC season and represented England at various age group levels.

He is also the son of Wallaby legend Micheal Lynagh who won the 1991 World Cup with Australia and his brother Tom Lynagh currently represents the Reds in Super Rugby and the Wallabies.

Matt Gallagher: Gallagher joins Benetton from Bath who he represented between 2022 and 2024 on 44 occasions.

He started his career with Saracens and had loan stints with Old Albanians and Bedford Blues before taking up a stint with Munster in 2020 before making the move to Bath.

The outside back have big shoes to step into with the retirement of Marcus Watson and will hope to impress the national selectors to add to his solitary Italy cap.

Riccardo Genovese: The former U20 Italian international joins Benetton from Zebre who he represented on 12 occasions between 2022 and 2024.

The prop will help beef up the Benetton pack who at times struggled during the 2023/4 season, especially against Irish and South African sides.

Marco Manfredi: The former Zebre hooker had represented his country at U20 level on nine occasions and his country on three.

His inclusion in the squad as mentioned with Genovese will help bolster a struggling front row and help Benetton to compete for a top eight spot again.

Lautara Bazán: A former 37-time capped Argentina international, Bazán joins Benetton from Rovigo Delta whom he spent the last three seasons with.

The scrumhalf will add depth to the position following the retirement of player/coach and former captain Dewald Duvenage.

Edinburgh: (2023/4 season standing: 10th)

Following a disappointing 2023/4 URC season, Edinburgh will aim to make the playoffs in the upcoming season.

Despite losing some big names, they made a few valuable additions to their squad as well.

Players out: Viliame Mata (Bristol Bears), WP Nel (Retired), Luan de Bruin (Newcastle Falcons), Adam Mcburney (Connacht), Charlie Savala (Northampton Saints), Jamie Campbell (released), Scott Steale (Retired), Jacob Henry (Coventry – long season loan).

Players in:

Paul Hill: The German born tighthead prop has been a stalwart for Northampton Saints between 2015 and 2024 – racking up 187 caps for the Premiership outfit before joining Edinburgh in 2024.

He also played six Tests for England and will boost the front row stocks for Edinburgh following the loss of WP Nel who announced his retirement earlier this year.

Magnus Bradbury: Having represented Scotland on 19 occasions, the No.8 joins Edinburgh from Bristol Bears who he represented on 19 occasions between 2022 and 2024.

He will fill the void left by Viliame Mate at No.8 who departed the side to link up with Bradbury’s former side, Bristol Bears.

Mosese Tuipulotu: Having not quite gotten the desired game time at the Waratahs (5 caps) following a torrid run with injuries – Tuipulotu’s addition to Edinburgh will help boost their midfield stocks.

Ross McCann: Sevens lovers will be familiar with McCann for his time with Great Britain and Scotland Sevens on the HSBC SVNS Series circuit.

The wing isn’t totally unfamiliar to the XV’s a side game having represented Edinburgh on two occasions before in 2023.

Ross Thompson: Thompson is a five-Test Scotland international who also represented Glasgow Warriors on 38 occasions.

He is able to slot beween flyhalf and fullback which provides great versatility depending on what’s required from his new side.

Matt Scott: A hard hitting centre, Scott joins Edinburgh for his third stint, having represented them on 90 occasions in total.

He also had stints with Gloucester and recently Leicester Tigers who he played for on 80 occasions.

He also played 40 times for the Scotland Test side and his experience will be invaluable for Edinburgh.

Zebre: (2023/4 season standing: 16th)

Another disappointing season for Zebre finishing last once again, the Italian outfit will really hope to do better in the upcoming season.

Their only result last season came in the form of a shocking 12-10 win against the Sharks in Parma.

Players out: Riccardo Genovese (Benetton), Tiff Eden (released), Tiana Fox-Matamua, Josh Kaifia (Hawke’s Bay), Franco Smith (released), Liam Zocchi-Dommann (released), Marco Manfredi (Benetton), Alessio Sanavia (Rovigo Delta), Pierre Bruno (Valorugby Emilia)

Players in:

Giacomo Da Re: The versatile back who’s comfortable at either fullback or flyhalf and came through the Benetton system as a junior.

He represented Benetton on 14 occasions before making the move to Zebre for the upcoming season.

Other players are Giovanni Quattrini promoted from the academy and Luca Franceschetto from Colorno.

Glasgow Warriors: (2023/4 season standing: fifth, finish: champions)

The feel good story of the 2023/4 season belongs to the defending champions, Glasgow.

Following an up and down season, the Scottish outfit upset the applecart when they knocked out 2021/2 champions the Stormers and travelled to the Limerick to come from behind and beat the then defending champion Munster.

Their task seemed like mission impossible when they travelled to Pretoria for the Final – despite being 0-13 down, they came back in the match to winning the URC title against all odds.

Players out: Greg Peterson (San Diego Legion), Fraser Brown (Retired), Ross Thompson (Edinburgh), Enrique Pieretto (Waratahs), George Turner (Kobe Steelers), Oli Kebble (Oyonnax), Thomas Gordon (Newcastle Falcons), Sintu Manjezi (Bulls), Lucio Sordoni (Racing 92).

Players in:

Patrick Schickerling: A former Exeter Chiefs tighthead prop, Schickerling joins Glasgow for the upcoming season having represented Exeter on 38 occasions.

Schickerling has tasted Premiership Cup success with Exeter in 2023 and joins the champions to boost their front row stocks following the departure of Oli Kebble.

Rory Sutherland: A British and Irish Lion (three caps) and Scotland international, Sutherland brings heaps of experience to the front row as he joins from his one season with Ulster.

He also had stints with Edinburgh (91 caps) and Worcester Warriors (14 caps).

Adam Hastings: Hastings joins Glasgow after a 39-cap stint with Gloucester.

He is not unfamiliar with the Warriors as he had represented them 53 times between 2017 and 2021 following a 12-cap stint with Bath.

He’s a versatile back that can cover flyhalf, centre and fullback.

Grant Stewart: Stewart is a three-Test Scotland international hooker that had represented the Warriors before as well between 2017 and 2022 on 48 occasions.

Fin Richardson: The tighthead prop joins the Warriors from Cornish Pirates.

He also represented Scotland at U20 level.

Sam Talakai: Another tighthead addition to the squad, Talakai represnted the Reds, Waratahs and Rebels in Super Rugby as well as Australia at Test level.

He also played for Tokyo Sungoliath on 22 occasions and will provide ample experience for his new team.

@Angyboyj