Italy Claims Historic First Victory Over England in Six Nations Rugby

Italy defeated England 23-18 at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on March 7, 2026, marking the first-ever win for the Azzurri against their long-time rivals in the Six Nations Championship. The historic victory was sealed with tries from Tommaso Menoncello and Leonardo Marin, complemented by three crucial penalties from fly-half Paolo Garbisi. AP News and Six Nations Rugby confirmed the final score and key details of the match.

A First in 33 Tests

Prior to this match, England held a perfect record against Italy in men’s Test rugby, having faced each other on 33 occasions. The only previous draw occurred in 1986 at the Stadio Olimpico, ending 15-15, but this was part of an ‘England 15’ tour and not officially recognized with caps awarded by the English side. Six Nations Rugby details this historical context.

Match Highlights and Turning Points

The match began as a closely contested affair, with an electric atmosphere at the Stadio Olimpico despite a large contingent of England supporters. Early injuries, including a late reshuffle for England after Tom Curry was injured in the warm-up and replaced by Sam Underhill, disrupted the flow of play. Six Nations Rugby provided a detailed account of the early match events.

Paolo Garbisi opened the scoring with a penalty in the 21st minute. Tommy Freeman then scored a endeavor for England in the 25th minute, but Italy responded with a try from Tommaso Menoncello in the 34th minute, taking a 10-5 lead. A cross-field kick from Fin Smith allowed Tom Roebuck to score just before halftime, giving England a narrow 12-10 advantage.

The second half saw a shift in momentum. Whereas England extended their lead to 15-10 with a penalty from Fin Smith, the game turned with yellow cards issued to Italy’s Giacomo Nicotera and then England’s Sam Underhill. Garbisi capitalized on these opportunities, narrowing the deficit with two penalties. Italy ultimately secured the victory with Leonardo Marin’s late try.

England’s Struggles Continue

This defeat marks England’s third consecutive loss in the 2026 Six Nations Championship, leaving Steve Borthwick’s side facing a challenging final-round trip to Paris. Six Nations Rugby highlighted the pressure facing the English team.

Historical Context of the Rivalry

The first meeting between Italy and England was a 1991 Rugby World Cup pool match at Twickenham, which England won 36-6. England’s largest victory in the fixture came in the 1999 World Cup, also at Twickenham, with a 67-7 win. The most points conceded by Italy in this rivalry was 80 in 2001 in London, during an 80-23 defeat.