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Italian international Robert Barbieri has confirmed his retirement from professional rugby. The 35-year-old loose forward hangs up the boots after enjoying a 16-year career in Europe including more than a decade playing for Benetton Treviso in the Italian 1st division and the Guinness Pro Championship.
Born and raised in Toronto where he was part of the York Yeomen club, Barbieri was spotted by Italian selectors while playing for Canada under-19. He made the move to Overmach Parma in 2003 along with older brother Mike. While the latter would earn two test caps as a prop for Canada, Robert opted for the Azzurri and was quickly called up to the national under-21 squad.
His test debut came against Japan in June 2006, and in 2007 Barbieri made the move from Parma to Treviso, playing with Benetton for the rest of his career with the exception of a single season in the English Premiership with Leicester Tigers in 2014-15. He earned 43 caps for Italy, 14 in the Six Nations, and was part of the 2011 World Cup squad after missing the 2007 event with injury.
Barbieri would play just one test against Canada, a 25-16 victory at BMO Field in his native Toronto in June 2012. His last test appearance came against Scotland in June 2017.
