Zebre Parma 2026-27 Season Preview: Can Tommaso Allan Help Turn Progress Into Wins?

Tommaso Allan joins a talented Zebre Parma side trying to turn close losses, young talent and European promise into lasting URC progress.

Sep 10, 2026 by Joe Harrington

Zebre Parma 2026-27 Season Preview: Can Tommaso Allan Help Turn Progress Into Wins?

Zebre Parma enter 2026-27 with a contradiction at the center of Massimo Brunello’s project: they are clearly more credible than the franchise that once seemed trapped at the bottom of professional rugby, yet last season was a genuine step backward. The challenge now is not proving that Zebre can play good rugby. They already have. It is proving they can sustain it.

That distinction defines everything about this season. Zebre have an increasingly legitimate Italian development pathway, a dangerous backline, a coach who was the URC’s Coach of the Season only two years ago and, now, Tommaso Allan to provide the experience and game management their young squad often lacked.

They also have a 2-16 league record to escape, a 16-match URC losing streak, an 0-9 away record and another offseason in which emerging internationals departed.

Zebre’s ceiling has risen. Their floor has not risen enough. If Brunello can finally bring the two closer together, 2026-27 can restore the momentum that disappeared last season.

UPCOMING

2026 Zebre Parma vs Vodacom Bulls

Sat, Sep 26 · 4:30 PM UTC

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What 2025-26 Told Us About Zebre Parma

The most revealing fact about Zebre’s season is not simply that they finished 16th. It is how they got there.

They opened by beating Edinburgh 31-28 and the Lions 22-20 in Parma, then lost their final 16 URC matches. Zebre finished 2-16 with 15 table points, scoring 312 points and conceding 587. Their 43 tries represented an improvement from 38 in 2024-25, but they allowed 85, producing a minus-42 try differential and minus-275 points differential.

That was regression. In Brunello’s first season, 2024-25, Zebre had won five matches, drawn another, collected 29 points and finished 15th. Their differential had improved to minus-201 after being minus-391 two seasons earlier. The trajectory looked meaningful. Then it reversed.

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Still, 2025-26 was not uniformly bleak. Zebre went 3-1 in the Challenge Cup pool stage, beat Pau 31-15 in the Round of 16 and reached the quarterfinals before losing 35-32 to Dragons. They won six matches across all competitions, actually one more than in 2024-25.

The problem was converting competitiveness into accumulation. Six URC games were decided by seven points or fewer, and Zebre went 2-4 in them. In April, they lost three consecutive matches across competitions by three, one and one points. Then the season ended with identical 54-19 defeats at the Bulls and Sharks.

Home and away told different stories. Zebre were 2-7 in Parma with a minus-80 differential, but 0-9 away with a minus-195 differential. They conceded 37.6 points per road match. The evidence was unmistakable: Zebre could threaten credible opponents, especially at home, but could not maintain the physical, defensive and decision-making standard required across an entire URC season.

What Changed For Zebre In 2026-27

Tommaso Allan changes the top end of this roster.

The veteran Italy fly-half/fullback arrived from Perpignan after entering the summer Nations Championship with 89 Test caps. He gives Zebre a proven first receiver, goal kicker and territorial manager who can recognize when a young, ambitious team needs control rather than another attacking phase. For a side that repeatedly lost matches late, that skill set directly addresses a weakness.

The rest of the incoming class is more developmental. Scrum-halves Lorenzo Citton and Patricio Baronio, hooker Francisco Minervino, prop Sergio Pelliccioli, locks Alex Mattioli and Pietro Turrisi and back-rower Iacopo Botturi deepen the pathway from Italian domestic rugby and developmental environments into the professional squad.

But Zebre lost established depth. Tighthead Ion Neculai joined Northampton after earning another Italy cap. Argentina scrum-half Gonzalo García moved to Pau. Malik Faissal followed Neculai to Northampton after breaking into the senior Italy setup. Enrique Pieretto departed at tighthead, while veteran centers Luca Morisi and Enrico Lucchin retired.

That makes the offseason a top-end gain and a depth gamble. Allan is the best individual addition, but he does not replace the combined functions of Neculai, García, Pieretto, Morisi and Lucchin. Zebre are better at fly-half and more experienced at the controls. Whether they are better overall depends heavily on young and domestic-pathway forwards becoming trustworthy URC players quickly.

Brunello remains in charge, supported by a specialist staff that now includes Giampiero De Carli coaching the scrum alongside David Sisi on the lineout, Gilberto Pavan at the breakdown, Aldo Birchall on defense and Mattia Dolcetto on attack. The response to last place is refinement, not reset.

Zebre Parma Projected Starting XV For 2026-27

This is a projection based on the current squad, recent usage, international standing, roster changes and tactical fit, not an announced lineup.

Loosehead Prop — Muhamed Hasa
Hooker — Tommaso Di Bartolomeo
Tighthead Prop — Matteo Nocera
Lock — Matteo Canali
Lock — Leonard Krumov
Blindside Flanker — David Odiase
Openside Flanker — Samuele Locatelli
No. 8 — Giovanni Licata
Scrum-Half — Alessandro Fusco
Fly-Half — Tommaso Allan
Left Wing — Simone Gesi
Inside Center — Marco Zanon
Outside Center — Giulio Bertaccini
Right Wing — Jacopo Trulla
Fullback — Lorenzo Pani

Projected Bench

Giovanni Quattrini
Luca Rizzoli
Sergio Pelliccioli
Franco Carrera
Alessandro Ortombina
Lorenzo Citton
Giovanni Montemauri
Giacomo Da Re

The hardest calls are in the back row and back three. Odiase, Locatelli, Licata and Ortombina all have compelling cases, while Giacomo Ferrari adds another proven option. Mirko Belloni also pushes for back-three minutes. Rizzoli could reclaim a starting loosehead role if his return from the Achilles injury reaches its previous level.

Scrum-half has the sharpest experience drop: Fusco is established internationally, while García’s exit leaves his understudies with far less high-level experience. Center also becomes very thin quickly behind Zanon, Bertaccini and Damiano Mazza.

Back row is the deepest area. Tighthead, scrum-half and specialist center depth are the concerns.

The Players Who Make Zebre Go

Allan may be the best-known player, but Fusco may be the most important.

Zebre’s first-choice halfback pairing can change how this team functions. Fusco brings international experience and tempo at scrum-half; Allan supplies control outside him. If Fusco provides clean service and Allan can choose when to attack, kick or slow the game, Zebre should be better equipped to turn 60-minute contests into 80-minute victories.

Pani gives them a genuine transition threat from fullback. Gesi can create line breaks without requiring a perfect multi-phase buildup. Bertaccini provides directness in midfield. Up front, Di Bartolomeo is increasingly important because his throwing and work rate connect the front row to a lineout system that must become reliable. Odiase supplies the physical upside Zebre need against heavier opponents. Captain Licata remains the organizational and emotional center of the team.

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Locatelli may be the breakout player who changes the pack’s level. He made 129 tackles in 11 URC appearances last season, earned a first Six Nations call-up and is contracted through 2029. His combination of defensive volume and athleticism makes him more than another development prospect.

The player Zebre can least afford to lose, however, is Fusco. Da Re and Montemauri give Brunello legitimate alternatives around Allan. There is no similarly proven replacement at scrum-half.

How Zebre Parma Win Matches

Zebre are not built to survive by refusing to play.

Brunello’s team wants energy, tempo and ambition. The backline encourages it: Pani, Gesi and Trulla can attack space, Bertaccini carries directly, and Da Re and Montemauri are comfortable creating with the ball. The necessary evolution is selectivity. Zebre scored more tries last season than in their five-win 2024-25 campaign, yet conceded 85. More ambition is not the answer. Better decisions about where and when to use it are.

That is why Allan matters. His kicking can move matches into safer areas of the field, his goal kicking can convert pressure into points and his experience can help Zebre recognize when territory is worth more than possession. If he and Fusco can control exits and tempo, the dangerous runners outside them should receive better opportunities.

The pack must make that possible. De Carli’s arrival emphasizes the scrum, while Sisi’s lineout role and Pavan’s breakdown specialization show where the staff is investing detail. The back row looks athletic and deep enough to compete. The front five is less certain, particularly at tighthead and behind the leading locks.

When the approach breaks down, it tends to happen in familiar ways: stronger packs impose themselves, defensive standards fall, the bench cannot preserve the starters’ level, and a close match escapes in the final quarter. Away from Parma, those cracks have often become blowouts.

Zebre do not need a new identity. They need their current identity to become sustainable.

Why Zebre Can Succeed — And What Could Stop Them

The strongest case for improvement is that Brunello has already shown this project can produce a five-win URC season. The 2024-25 jump was substantial enough to matter, and last year’s Challenge Cup run showed the squad can still beat professional opposition in consequential matches.

There is also more Italy-level talent in Parma than the league table implies. Fusco, Pani and Di Bartolomeo are established in the wider national setup; Odiase, Bertaccini and Ortombina have been capped; Locatelli has entered the national conversation; Gesi, Trulla and Zanon bring Test experience; and Allan dramatically increases the experience of the backline.

The problem is that development success can weaken Zebre. Players improve, reach international level and either leave for stronger clubs or disappear into Italy camps. Fischetti and Zambonin left before last season; Neculai, García and Faissal are gone now. The club’s pathway works, but retention remains difficult.

That makes cumulative depth failure the most plausible route to another bad season. A tighthead injury, an extended Fusco absence, multiple Italy call-ups and a few targeted away matches slipping away could expose the squad quickly. The December-January run through Munster, two Benetton derbies, Glasgow and a South African tour is particularly capable of magnifying those problems.

The road defense is the clearest performance issue. A team conceding nearly 38 points per away match cannot climb meaningfully. Zebre need at least one road victory and, more importantly, evidence that traveling no longer causes their defensive floor to collapse.

Zebre Parma 2026-27 Outlook

A playoff push would require an extraordinary transformation. Zebre went 1-8 against eventual playoff teams last season, so jumping directly from 16th into the top eight should be treated as a ceiling fantasy rather than a reasonable expectation.

The realistic range is 14th to 16th, with three or four league wins the most plausible outcome. But the better benchmark is 2024-25: five victories, 29 table points and a meaningfully improved differential. Matching or exceeding five wins, breaking the road drought and reaching the Challenge Cup knockouts again would constitute real progress.

Europe may offer the more realistic route to a memorable season. Zebre reached the Challenge Cup quarterfinals last year and now enter a pool featuring Ulster, Perpignan, Bayonne, Toyota Cheetahs and Dragons. Another knockout appearance would reinforce that European progress was not a one-off.

Success should mean more than finishing 15th because somebody else gets worse. It should look like at least five league wins, a road breakthrough, defensive improvement, direct results against lower-table rivals and another credible European campaign. A derby victory over Benetton would add weight to the argument that the gap within Italian professional rugby is narrowing.

Disappointment would be 16th again with one or two wins, another huge negative differential and no European knockout rugby. That outcome would make Brunello’s excellent 2024-25 season increasingly resemble an outlier.

Zebre enter 2026-27 as a team with a higher ceiling than their reputation and a lower floor than their talent suggests. Allan can bring control. Fusco and the backs can bring danger. The pathway will keep producing players. But the season will be decided by whether the pack, defense, depth and late-game management can make those strengths repeatable.

That is the next step for Brunello’s project: not proving Zebre can compete, but proving they can accumulate. Close losses must become points, Parma performances must travel, and young internationals must make the club stronger before their success makes the squad thinner. If Zebre can finally turn flashes into habits, progress under pressure becomes progress that lasts.

Zebre Parma 2026-27 Schedule: Every URC And Challenge Cup Match

Zebre Parma 2026-27 URC Schedule

Round 1: Zebre Parma vs. Bulls, Sept. 26, 2026
Round 2: Cardiff Rugby vs. Zebre Parma, Oct. 2, 2026
Round 3: Zebre Parma vs. Edinburgh Rugby, Oct. 10, 2026
Round 4: Connacht Rugby vs. Zebre Parma, Oct. 23, 2026
Round 5: Dragons RFC vs. Zebre Parma, Oct. 31, 2026
Round 6: Zebre Parma vs. Munster Rugby, Dec. 5, 2026
Round 7: Zebre Parma vs. Benetton Rugby, Dec. 19, 2026
Round 8: Benetton Rugby vs. Zebre Parma, Dec. 27, 2026
Round 9: Zebre Parma vs. Glasgow Warriors, Jan. 2, 2027
Round 10: 10Bet Lions vs. Zebre Parma, Jan. 23, 2027
Round 11: Stormers vs. Zebre Parma, Jan. 30, 2027
Round 12: Zebre Parma vs. Scarlets, Feb. 27, 2027
Round 13: Ulster Rugby vs. Zebre Parma, March 20, 2027
Round 14: Glasgow Warriors vs. Zebre Parma, March 26, 2027
Round 15: Zebre Parma vs. Hollywoodbets Sharks, April 17, 2027
Round 16: Zebre Parma vs. Ospreys, April 23, 2027
Round 17: Edinburgh Rugby vs. Zebre Parma, May 7, 2027
Round 18: Zebre Parma vs. Leinster Rugby, May 15, 2027

Zebre Parma 2026-27 Challenge Cup Pool Schedule

Challenge Cup Round 1: Zebre Parma vs. Ulster Rugby, Oct. 17, 2026
Challenge Cup Round 2: Perpignan vs. Zebre Parma, Dec. 13, 2026
Challenge Cup Round 3: Zebre Parma vs. Toyota Cheetahs, Jan. 10, 2027
Challenge Cup Round 4: Bayonne vs. Zebre Parma, Jan. 16, 2027

Zebre Parma 2026-27 Frequently Asked Questions

How Can Rugby Fans In The United States Watch Zebre Parma On FloRugby?

Rugby fans in the United States can watch Zebre Parma throughout the 2026-27 season on FloRugby, with matches also available to stream through the FloSports app.

What League Do Zebre Parma Play In?

Zebre Parma play in the United Rugby Championship, or URC, alongside clubs from Ireland, Italy, Scotland, Wales and South Africa.

Where Did Zebre Parma Finish In The 2025-26 URC?

Zebre finished 16th in the 2025-26 URC with a 2-16 record and 15 table points. They scored 312 points and 43 tries while conceding 587 points and 85 tries.

Who Is The Zebre Parma Head Coach?

Massimo Brunello is Zebre Parma's head coach. He took charge before the 2024-25 season and was named URC Coach of the Season after guiding Zebre to five league wins, one draw and 29 table points in his first campaign.

Who Is The Zebre Parma Sporting Director?

George Biagi is Zebre Parma's sporting director.

Who Is The Zebre Parma Captain?

Giovanni Licata is Zebre Parma's captain. The back-rower is under contract through 2028 and remains an important leader within Brunello's squad. Leonard Krumov also has captained the team when Licata has been unavailable.

Where Do Zebre Parma Play Their Home Matches?

Zebre Parma play their home matches at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi in Parma, Italy. The stadium is part of the Italian Rugby Federation's Cittadella del Rugby complex.

What European Competition Are Zebre Parma Playing In?

Zebre Parma are competing in the 2026-27 EPCR Challenge Cup. Their pool includes Ulster Rugby, Perpignan, Bayonne, the Toyota Cheetahs and Dragons RFC, with Zebre playing four pool fixtures.

When Does Zebre Parma's 2026-27 URC Season Start?

Zebre open the 2026-27 URC season at home against the Bulls on Sept. 26, 2026.

How Did Zebre Parma Perform In The 2025-26 Challenge Cup?

Zebre reached the Challenge Cup quarterfinals. They went 3-1 during pool play, finished second in Pool 1 and beat Pau 31-15 in Parma in the Round of 16 before losing 35-32 to Dragons in the quarterfinals.

Did Zebre Parma Make The 2026 URC Playoffs?

No. Zebre finished 16th with two wins and 15 points. Their only URC victories came in the opening two rounds against Edinburgh and the Lions before they lost their final 16 league matches.

Who Are Some Zebre Parma Players To Know In 2026-27?

Tommaso Allan, Alessandro Fusco, Lorenzo Pani, Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, David Odiase, Giovanni Licata, Samuele Locatelli and Simone Gesi are among Zebre's most important players entering 2026-27.

Allan is the headline newcomer, while Fusco is particularly important because of the experience drop at scrum-half behind him.

Who Did Zebre Parma Sign For 2026-27?

Zebre's eight additions are Tommaso Allan, Lorenzo Citton, Patricio Baronio, Alex Mattioli, Pietro Turrisi, Francisco Minervino, Sergio Pelliccioli and Iacopo Botturi.

Allan is the headline signing and gives Zebre an experienced international fly-half and fullback who can provide game management, territorial kicking and goal kicking.

Who Left Zebre Parma Before The 2026-27 Season?

Major departures include Ion Neculai, Gonzalo García, Malik Faissal and Enrique Pieretto, while veteran centers Luca Morisi and Enrico Lucchin retired.

Neculai's move to Northampton is particularly important because it leaves uncertainty at tighthead prop, while García's move to Pau removes an experienced Argentina international from the scrum-half rotation.

What Is The Biggest Question Facing Zebre Parma In 2026-27?

Whether Zebre can turn competitive performances into consistent results.

They lost four URC matches by seven points or fewer in 2025-26 and suffered three consecutive defeats across competitions in April by a combined five points. The arrival of Allan should give Zebre additional experience in the game-management situations that repeatedly decided close matches last season.

What Is Zebre Parma's Biggest Weakness Entering 2026-27?

Away performance and defensive consistency are the clearest concerns.

Zebre went 0-9 away from Parma during the 2025-26 URC season and conceded 338 points in those nine matches, an average of 37.6 per game. They also conceded 85 tries across the league season.

What Is Zebre Parma's Biggest Strength Entering 2026-27?

Their back-row depth and collection of attacking Italian backs stand out.

Players such as Pani, Gesi, Bertaccini, Fusco and Allan give Zebre considerable attacking and international quality, while Licata, Odiase, Locatelli, Ortombina and others create genuine competition in the back row.

Who Is The Zebre Parma Player To Watch In 2026-27?

Tommaso Allan is the obvious headline player because of his experience, tactical control and goal kicking, but Samuele Locatelli is one of the most intriguing breakout candidates.

Locatelli made 129 tackles in 11 URC appearances during 2025-26, received his first Six Nations call-up and is under contract with Zebre through 2029.

Can Zebre Parma Make The URC Playoffs In 2026-27?

A playoff push would represent an enormous leap for Zebre after finishing 16th in 2025-26. A more realistic goal is climbing out of the bottom two, increasing their win total and establishing themselves as a more consistent threat to the URC's middle tier.

What Would Count As A Successful 2026-27 Season For Zebre Parma?

Five league victories would be an important benchmark because it would match Zebre's total from 2024-25, while six would establish a new high for the club in the URC era.

An away victory, significant defensive improvement, a finish of 14th or better and another meaningful Challenge Cup run also would provide clear evidence of progress.

What Makes Zebre Parma Different From Benetton Rugby?

Zebre operate more explicitly as a development bridge between Italian domestic rugby, the Italian Rugby Federation's development system and the senior national team.

Benetton currently have a higher competitive floor and more established international experience across their squad. Zebre increasingly have shown they can compete with their Italian rival in individual matches, but they have not yet demonstrated the same consistency across an entire URC season.

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