2025–26 Benetton Rugby season

Benetton Rugby
2025–26 season
Head coachCalum MacRae
PresidentAmerino Zatta
United Rugby Championship-
Challenge Cup-
Home colours
Away colours

The 2025–26 season will be Benetton Treviso's fifth season in the United Rugby Championship, and their 94th season of competitive rugby. Along with competing in the URC and its Scottish–Italian Shield competition, the club will also participate in the 2025–26 EPRC Challenge Cup.

Staff and coaching team

Transfers

United Rugby Championship

Matches

27 September 2025 (1 BP) Connacht Ireland 26 – 15 Italy Benetton The Sportsground, Galway  
19:45 Try: Ioane (8')
Sean Naughton (19')
Tierney-Martin (46')
Jansen (73')
Con: Forde (9', 47', 74')
Cards: Mullins yellow card 26' to 36'
Report Try: Louis Lynagh (41')
Garbisi (81')
Con: Umaga (82')
Pen: Umaga (16')
Cards: Fekitoa yellow card 8' to 18'
Lamaro yellow card 44' to 54'
Attendance: 3,928
Referee: Christopher Allison
4 October 2025 Benetton Italy 16 – 14 Scotland Glasgow Warriors (1 BP) Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso  
17:30 Try: Menoncello (51')
Con: Umaga (53')
Pen: Umaga (26', 71')
Drop: R. Smith (81')
Cards: Cannone yellow card 67' to 77'
Report Try: Oguntibeju (19')
McKay (29')
Con: A. Hastings (20', 30')
Attendance: 4,806
Referee: Ben Connor
11 October 2025 (1 BP) Benetton Italy 41 – 15 South Africa Lions Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso  
15:00 Try: R Smith(8')
Lynagh (14', 30', 71', 83')
Ferrari (20')
Con: Umaga (21', 31', 72')
R Smith(84')
Pen: Umaga (42')
Cards: Gallo Yellow card 53'
Avaca Yellow card 80'
Report Try: Ntlabakanye (27')
v. Vuuren (78')
Con: CW Smith(28')
Pen: CW Smith (2')
Cards: Jonker Yellow card 69'
Horn Yellow card 80'+2
Attendance: 4,850
Referee: Andrew Brace
17 October 2025 (1 BP) Edinburgh Scotland 43 – 0 Italy Benetton Edinburgh Rugby Stadium  
19:45 Try: van der Merwe (5')
Richardson (11', 57')
Graham (39', 78')
O'Conor (65')
Bradbury (73')
Con: Scott (6', 11', 40')
Thompson (66')
Report Cards: Fekitoa Yellow card 44'
Garbisi Yellow card 57'
Attendance: 6,763[21]
25 October 2025 Benetton Italy 16 – 31 South Africa Stormers Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso  
17:30 Try: Lynagh (30' c)
Con: Umaga (31')
Pen: Umaga (15', 18', 35')
Report Try: Sandi (6' m)
Matthee (48' c)
Porthen (80' c)
Con: Matthee (49', 81')
Pen: Matthee (20', 45', 53', 72')
Attendance: 4,903
Referee: Hollie Davidson Scotland
28 November 2025 (1 BP) Ulster Ireland 47–13 Italy Benetton Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast  
19:45 Try: Baloucoune, (10' m, 77' c)
Kok, (21' c, 58' c)
Hume (52' c)
Sheridan(68' c)
penalty try (63')
Con: Doak (22', 53', 59')
Flannery (68', 78')
Report
Scoreboard
Try: Bernasconi (28' c)
Con: Umaga (29')
Pen: Umaga (15', 43')
Cards: Ratave yellow card 63' to 73'
Attendance: 11,517[22]
Referee: Sam Grove-White Scotland}
20 December 2025 Benetton Italy 21 – 15 Italy Zebre Parma (1 BP) Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso  
14:00 Try: Mendy 26' c
Gasperini 65' m
Con: Umaga 26'
Pen: Umaga (3) 17', 30', 46'
Cards: Menoncello Yellow card 51'
Report Try: Ferrari 52' m
Gesi 68' c
Con: Montemauri 69'
Pen: Montemauri 38'
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR)
27 December 2025 Zebre Parma Italy 23 – 37 Italy Benetton (1 BP) Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma  
14:30 Try: Gesi 43' c
Faissal 79' c
Con: Da Re 44'
Dominguez 80'
Pen: Da Re (3) 8', 13'. 31'
Cards: Ferrari Yellow card 7'
Mazza Yellow card 53'
Report Try: Mendy 2' c
penalty try 53'
Odogwu 62' c
Werchon 70' c
Con: Umaga (3) 3', 63' 71'
Pen: Umaga (3) 7', 18' 40+1'
Cards: Lamaro Yellow card 25'
Attendance: 4,500
Referee: Clara Munarini (ITA)
3 January 2026 (1 BP) Benetton Italy 14 – 15 Scotland Edinburgh Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso  
17:30 Try: Gallo 52' c
Fekitoa 57' c
Con: Umaga (2/2) 53', 58'
Report Try: Vellacott 21' c
Graham 48' m
Con: Thompson (1/2) 22'
Pen: Thompson 29'
Attendance: 4,857
Referee: Peter Martin (Ireland)
24 January 2026 Cardiff Wales 17 – 8 Italy Benetton Cardiff Arms Park  
19:45 Try: McNally 49' m
Pen: Sheedy (3) 13', 16', 60'
Lloyd 80+1'
Cards: Mann Yellow card 26'
Report Try: Ruzza 66' m
Pen: Smith 46'
Attendance: 8,052
Referee: Sam Grove-White
30 January 2026 Benetton Italy 20 – 20 Wales Scarlets Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso  
19:45 Try: Odogwu 37' c
Garbisi 71' c
Con: Smith 38'
Roger 72'
Pen: Smith (2) 25', 30'
Report Try: Davies 42' c
Lewis 57' m
Page 75' m
Con: Leggatt-Jones (1/3) 43'
Pen: Leggatt-Jones 15'
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland
28 February 2026 Dragons Wales v Italy Benetton Rodney Parade, Newport  
17:30
21 March 2026 Benetton Italy v Wales Ospreys Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso  
15:00
27 March 2026 Glasgow Warriors Scotland v Italy Benetton Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow  
19:45
18 April 2026 Benetton Italy v Ireland Munster Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso  
19:45
25 April 2026 Benetton Italy v Ireland Leinster Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso  
19:45
9 May 2026 Sharks South Africa v Italy Benetton Kings Park Stadium, Durban  
15:00
16 May 2026 Bulls South Africa v Italy Benetton Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria  
15:00

Standings

Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts Qualification
1 Glasgow Warriors 11 9 0 2 310 155 +155 44 21 7 1 44 Qualifies for home URC quarter-final;
Qualification for the 2026–27 Champions Cup
2 Leinster 11 8 0 3 301 234 +67 44 31 7 1 40
3 Stormers 10 8 0 2 274 161 +113 34 20 4 0 36
4 Ulster 10 7 0 3 302 208 +94 42 28 6 2 36
5 Cardiff 11 7 0 4 232 203 +29 34 28 5 3 36 Qualifies for URC quarter-final;
Qualification for the 2026–27 Champions Cup
6 Munster 11 7 0 4 227 218 +9 33 29 5 2 35
7 Bulls 10 5 0 5 263 258 +5 38 37 4 1 25
8 Ospreys 11 4 2 5 239 263 −24 36 40 4 1 25
9 Sharks 10 4 1 5 222 258 −36 33 32 5 1 24 Qualification for the 2026–27 Challenge Cup
10 Lions 10 4 1 5 267 310 −43 36 46 4 2 24
11 Benetton 11 4 1 6 201 266 −65 22 36 2 1 21
12 Connacht 10 3 0 7 243 269 −26 32 37 5 4 21
13 Edinburgh 10 3 0 7 195 194 +1 30 30 2 4 18
14 Dragons 11 2 2 7 212 271 −59 27 40 2 4 18
15 Scarlets 10 3 1 6 173 239 −66 22 32 0 1 15
16 Zebre Parma 11 2 0 9 190 344 −154 25 48 2 2 12
Updated to match(es) played on 30 January 2026. Source: UnitedRugby.com
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers for teams tied on points: 1) Number of matches won 2) The difference between points for and points against 3) The number of tries scored 4) The most points scored 5) The difference between tries for and tries against 6) The fewest red cards received 7) The fewest yellow cards received.[23]


2025–26 United Rugby Championship Regional Shield tables
Italy Scotland Italian x Scottish Shield
Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TBP LBP Pts Pos overall
1 Scotland Glasgow Warriors (S) 5 4 0 1 132 62 +70 20 8 3 1 20 1
2 Italy Benetton 5 3 0 2 88 110 -22 9 14 1 1 14 11
3 Scotland Edinburgh 5 2 0 3 101 90 +11 15 13 2 1 11 13
4 Italy Zebre Parma 5 1 0 4 100 159 -59 13 21 1 2 7 16
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:[24]
  1. number of matches won
  2. the difference between points for and points against
  3. the number of tries scored
  4. the most points scored
  5. the difference between tries for and tries against
  6. the fewest red cards received
  7. the fewest yellow cards received
Green background indicates teams currently leading the regional shield. Upon the conclusion of the regular season, these teams win their respective regional shields.

(S) : URC Shield champion

EPRC Challenge Cup

Pool 2 table

EPCR Challenge Cup Pool 2
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts Qualification
1 Italy Benetton (2) 4 4 0 0 182 89 +93 24 11 3 0 19 Home round of 16
2 England Newcastle Red Bulls (6) 4 3 0 1 75 78 −3 11 11 1 0 13
3 Wales Dragons (13) 4 2 0 2 96 148 −52 14 21 1 0 9 Away round of 16
4 France Perpignan (16) 4 1 1 2 111 107 +4 14 14 1 1 8
5 South Africa Lions 4 1 1 2 90 93 −3 11 12 1 1 8
6 France Lyon 4 0 0 4 87 126 −39 13 17 1 2 3
Source: EPCR[25]
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers for teams tied on points: 1) Number of matches won; 2) Difference between points for and against; 3) Total number of points for; 4) Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams; 5) Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled.

Pool matches

6 December 2025 Lions South Africa 18–26 Italy Benetton Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg  
15:00 Try: Mpeku 37' c
Venter 45' m
Con: C. Smith (1/2) 38'
Pen: C. Smith (2/3) 9', 57'
Cards: Mpeku Yellow card 66'
Report Try: Smith 6' m
Marin 71' c, 75' m
Con: Albornoz (1/2) 72'
Pen: Umaga (1/2) 13'
Albornoz (1/1) 60'
Drop: Albornoz (1/1) 79'
Attendance: 4,120
Referee: Kevin Bralley (France)
13 December 2025 (1 BP) Benetton Italy 44–31 France Perpignan Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso  
14:00 Try: Odogwu (2) 8' c, 24' c
Izekor 19' c
Bernasconi 49' c
Mendy 59' c
Con: Albornoz (3/3) 9', 19', 25'
Umaga (2/2) 50', 60'
Pen: Albornoz (1/1) 14'
Umaga (2/2) 67', 78'
Report Try: Duguivalu 21' c
Poulet 34' c
Fahy 63' m
Con: Reus (2/3) 21', 35'
Pen: Reus (4/5) 3', 16', 46', 53'
Attendance: 4,151
Referee: Ben Connor (Wales)
10 January 2026 (1 BP) Benetton Italy 74–21 Wales Dragons Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso  
18:30 Try: Izekor 14' c
Ratave 18' c
Fekitoa 33' m
Odogwu (2) 37' m, 55' c
Umaga (2) 40' c, 64' c
Lynagh (2) 51' m, 67' c
Marin (2) 75' c, 80+2' c
Con: Umaga (8/11) 15', 19', 41', 56', 65', 68', 75', 80+3'
Pen: Umaga (1/1) 3'
Report Try: Burrows 29' c
Dyer 58' c
Lewis-Hughes 78' c
Con: de Beer (2/2) 30', 59'
J. Lloyd (1/1) 78'
Attendance: 3,754
Referee: Benoit Rousselet (France)
18 January 2026 Lyon France 19–38 Italy Benetton (1 BP) Mahmut Stadium, Lyon  
14:00 Try: Parisien (2) 3' c, 7' c
Cretin 58' m
Con: Jackson (2/2) 4', 8'
Report Try: Maile (2) 20' c, 39' c
Fekitoa 29' c
Ratave 35' c
Spagnolo 62' c
Con: Smith (5/5) 21', 30', 36', 40', 63'
Pen: Smith (1/1) 10'
Attendance: 14,659
Referee: Sara Cox (England)

Knockout stage

Benetton qualified for a home tie in the Round of 16 when they confirmed a top two finish in Pool 2 in Round 3.

Round of 16 Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
            
1 France Montpellier
16 France Perpignan
 
 
8 Ireland Connacht
9 South Africa Sharks
 
 
4 France Stade Français
13 Wales Dragons
 
 
5 Italy Zebre Parma
12 France Pau
 
 
2 Italy Benetton
15 Wales Cardiff
 
 
7 England Exeter Chiefs
10 Ireland Munster
 
 
3 Ireland Ulster
14 Wales Ospreys
 
 
6 England Newcastle Red Bulls
11 France La Rochelle
Round of 16

Home attendance

Season commences September 2025

Domestic League EPCR Challenge Cup Total
League Fixtures Total attendance Average Highest Lowest League Fixtures Total attendance Average Highest Lowest Total attendance Average
2025–26 United Rugby Championship 4 19,559 4,890 5,000 4,806 2025–26 European Challenge Cup 2 7,905 3,953 4,151 3.754 27,464 4,577

References

  1. ^ Palma, Francesco (5 May 2025). "Rugby - Benetton: ufficiale l'arrivo di un nuovo terza linea" [Benetton: the arrival of a new third line is official]. On Rugby (in Italian). Retrieved 5 May 2025.
  2. ^ "Jadin Kingi è ufficialmente un leone" [Jadin Kingi becomes officially a lion]. Benetton Rugby (in Italian). 23 May 2025. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Sei giovani talenti si uniscono definitivamente ai leoni" [Six young talents join Leoni]. Benetton Rugby (in Italian). 26 June 2025. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  4. ^ a b c "Queensland Reds head to Italy in landmark partnership with Benetton Treviso". Queensland Reds. 21 July 2025. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  5. ^ "Tomas Montilla al Benetton Rugby" [Tomas Montilla at Benetton Rugby] (in Italian). Benetton Rugby. 3 October 2025. Retrieved 3 October 2025.
  6. ^ "Nicolas Roger Farias è un nuovo leone" [Nicolas Roger Farias is a new lion] (in Italian). Benetton Rugby. 30 December 2025. Retrieved 30 December 2025.
  7. ^ "Otro jugador de Tarucas emigra a Europa: Tomás Medina, rumbo a Italia" [Another Tarucas player emigrates to Europe: Tomás Medina, heading to Italy] (in Spanish). Tendencia de Noticias. 9 January 2025. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
  8. ^ "Exclu Midol. Juan Ignacio Brex jouera à Toulon l'an prochain" [Transfers. Top 14 – Excludes Midol. Juan Ignacio Brex (Benetton Treviso) has signed with Toulon for next year]. Rugbyrama.fr. 12 February 2025. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
  9. ^ "Lautaro Bazán Vélez Leaves Benetton for Sevens Pastures". Americas Rugby News. 28 February 2025. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  10. ^ "Agustin Creevy retires". X. 23 May 2025. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
  11. ^ "Benvenuto Riccardo Genovese". Rugby Mogliano. 23 June 2025. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
  12. ^ Flot, Valentin (26 June 2025). "Edoardo Iachizzi est de retour au RC Vannes". Rugby Club Vannes (in French). Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  13. ^ "Bentornato Filippo Drago". Rugby Mogliano. 27 June 2025. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
  14. ^ "Serie A Elite, Valorugby: un mediano di mischia per gli emiliani". OnRugby.it. 25 July 2025. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  15. ^ "Marco Zanon è un nuovo giocatore delle Zebre Parma per la stagione 2025-26" [Marco Zanon is a new Zebre Parma player for the 2025-26 season]. Zebre Parma.it. 29 July 2025. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  16. ^ "Sharks bring in backline experience". SA Rugby Mag. 7 August 2025. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  17. ^ "Serie A Elite: gran colpo del Petrarca nel reparto degli avanti". OnRugby.it. 9 August 2025. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  18. ^ "'He loves to hit hard' - Saints sign Italy hooker Manfredi". Northampton Chronicle and Echo. 3 October 2025. Retrieved 3 October 2025.
  19. ^ "Toulon officially announce signing of Pumas pivot Tomás Albornoz". Rugby Pass. 13 December 2025. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
  20. ^ "Benetton Rugby: Arriva la risoluzione consensuale da un membro della rosa". OnRugby.it. 22 January 2026. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  21. ^ Plass, Finbar (17 October 2025). "Scott steers Edinburgh to big win amid concern over Van Der Merwe injury". The Edinburgh Reporter. Retrieved 18 October 2025.
  22. ^ "Match Report | Ulster 47-13 Benetton". Ulster Rugby. Retrieved 29 November 2025.
  23. ^ "Competition rules – United Rugby Championship". United Rugby Championship. Archived from the original on 22 September 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
  24. ^ League Format (3) "Competition Rules". United Rugby Championship. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  25. ^ "Pool Tables | EPCR Challenge Cup". European Professional Club Rugby. Retrieved 2 July 2024.