A setback for a generation coming off a Six Nations Grand Slam and a World Championship final.
17-0 after twenty minutes
The warm-up match at the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi in Parma on Friday night quickly went Italy’s way. After an Andretti penalty (11th minute), flanker Caratori Tontini scored the first try (16th), converted: 10-0. France then lost two players in two minutes. Alban Portat was sin-binned in the 19th minute for repeated infringements, then Zak Price in the 20th for collapsing a maul heading for the line. The referee awarded a penalty try: 17-0.
Three French tries
With thirteen men, France hit back through wing Robin (25th), converted by Mathis Galeazzi. Wilson restored Italy’s fifteen-point lead (30th), before the French scrum-half scored just before the break, converted by Galeazzi: 22-14 at half-time.
After the break and the eleven replacements agreed by both sides, Italy captain Davide Sette scored his side’s last try (53rd, 27-14). Replacement Vermeulen scored from a lineout (62nd) to make it 27-19.
A title-winning generation
France U20 were coming off an outstanding 2025-26. They won the U20 Six Nations with five wins from five, including a 32-17 win over Italy in February. They then reached the U20 World Championship final, lost 16-5 to South Africa in July.
For Italy it was the first match of Andrea Di Giandomenico’s new cycle.
Key figures
17-0 the score after twenty minutes, with two French players sin-binned
4-3 tries, in Italy's favour
5/5 France wins in the 2026 U20 Six Nations
32-17 their win over Italy in February
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