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Italy will be coached and captained by Argentines on Saturday. The final round of the 2025 Six Nations sees Italy at home to Ireland in Rome. Head Coach Gonzalo Quesada, who is a former Puma, has named Juan Ignacio Brex as captain for the test match.
Quesada and Brex are both from Buenos Aires. Quesada played for Hindú before beginning his professional career as a player in France in 2000. He did so after having been the top point-scorer at Rugby World Cup 1999.
Brex played his rugby for San Cirano in La Matanza. He played for Argentina at u20 level and for the national next-of-XV team, the Argentina XV at senior level. He moved to Italy to begin his professional rugby career and subsequently became Italian-eligible via the Olympic loophole.
Quesada named Brex as his captain in November 2024 against New Zealand. He will lead Italy for a second time in March 2025. He will do so with regular captain, Michele Lamaro, having been named as a replacement.
Brex follows in the footsteps of fellow Argentines to wear the Italian captain’s armband in the Six Nations. Sergio Parisse captained Italy from 2008-2019 and Martín Castrogiovanni also led Italy, such as against Wales in 2013, when Parisse was out.
Like Brex, Parisse and Castrogiovaani are Argentine born and raised. Parisse is a native of La Plata. He began playing rugby as a 5-year-old for local club Universitario de La Plata. He moved to Italy with his family aged 17 and debuted for Italy aged 18. Castrogiovanni is from Paraná in Entre Ríos and is a product of Club Atlético Estudiantes. He moved to Italy to play professional rugby at the age of 19.
