Argentine Leadership Set for Italy in Six Nations Final

Gonzalo Quesada and Juan Ignacio Brex, both Argentines, will lead Italy against Ireland in the final round of the Six Nations. Brex has previously captained the team and follows the legacy of other Argentine captains like Sergio Parisse and Martín Castrogiovanni.

In an unprecedented alignment, both the head coach and captain for Italy in the final round of the Six Nations will be Argentine nationals. Gonzalo Quesada, a former player for Argentina known as the Pumas, will lead Italy as they face Ireland in Rome. He has appointed Juan Ignacio Brex as captain for this pivotal match.

Both Quesada and Brex hail from Buenos Aires. Quesada’s professional rugby career commenced in 2000 in France after he had previously achieved recognition as the top point-scorer in the 1999 Rugby World Cup while representing Argentina. Brex’s rugby journey began at San Cirano in La Matanza; he subsequently played for the Argentina under-20 team and the Argentina XV at the senior level. His move to Italy granted him eligibility under the Olympic loophole.

Brex first captained the Italian team in 2024 during a match against New Zealand and is set to lead again in March 2025 due to regular captain Michele Lamaro’s replacement status. The legacy of Argentine leadership in Italian rugby continues, as Brex follows notable predecessors like Sergio Parisse and Martín Castrogiovanni, both of whom served as captains in the Six Nations.

Sergio Parisse, who captained Italy from 2008 to 2019, is originally from La Plata, Argentina, and began his rugby career at a local club at the age of five. He relocated to Italy at 17, making his international debut at 18. Likewise, Castrogiovanni, born in Paraná in Entre Ríos, moved to Italy to advance his rugby career at 19, having been nurtured at Club Atlético Estudiantes.

In summary, the 2025 Six Nations final round will see Argentina’s Gonzalo Quesada coaching Italy and Juan Ignacio Brex serving as captain. This situation highlights the influence of Argentine players in Italian rugby, as both Brex and his predecessors, Parisse and Castrogiovanni, showcase a remarkable connection between the two nations in the sport.

Original Source: www.americasrugbynews.com