Rome erupted in celebration on March 7, 2026, as Italy secured a historic 23-18 victory over England in the Six Nations, marking the first time the Azzurri have defeated their long-time rivals in men’s Test rugby. The win, achieved at the Stadio Olimpico, ended England’s perfect record against Italy, a streak spanning 33 previous encounters.
For decades, England has dominated this fixture, but a resilient Italian side, spurred on by a passionate home crowd, overturned an early English lead. Tries from Tommaso Menoncello and Leonardo Marin, coupled with three crucial penalties from fly-half Paolo Garbisi, proved decisive in securing the momentous win for Gonzalo Quesada’s team. The result throws the Six Nations standings into further turmoil and raises serious questions about England’s form.
Italy’s triumph wasn’t without drama. England saw both Sam Underhill and Maro Itoje sin-binned in the second half, providing Italy with the numerical advantage to capitalize and ultimately seal the victory. The match highlighted a growing competitiveness within Italian rugby, signaling a potential shift in the balance of power within the Six Nations.
A History of Dominance – Until Now
Prior to today’s historic result, England had consistently held the upper hand in matches against Italy. The two nations first met in a Test match at Twickenham in 1991, with England winning 36-6, scoring four tries to Italy’s none, including two from Jeremy Guscott. ESPN reported that England had maintained a flawless record until this recent encounter.
The largest margin of victory for England in this fixture came during the 1999 Rugby World Cup, also played at Twickenham, where they triumphed 67-7 – a 60-point winning margin. However, the most points conceded by Italy in a match against England was 80, suffered in a 2001 defeat in London (80-23). That match saw England score ten tries, with Iain Blashaw and Austin Healey each contributing a brace.
There was a notable exception to England’s dominance in 1986, when the teams played to a 15-15 draw at the Stadio Olimpico. However, this match was part of an ‘England 15’ tour, and even as Italy awarded caps to their players, England did not recognize the fixture as a full international.
England’s Struggles and Italian Resilience
The defeat in Rome represents a significant setback for England, particularly after an 18-10 lead built through tries from Tommy Freeman and Tom Roebuck, and the kicking accuracy of Fin Smith, began to unravel in the third quarter. England Rugby reported that the loss leaves them facing a potentially disappointing finish in the 2026 Six Nations.
The Italian victory was a testament to their growing tactical maturity and defensive solidity. Paolo Garbisi’s penalties proved crucial in shifting the momentum, and the team capitalized effectively on England’s disciplinary issues, with the sin-binning of Underhill and Itoje proving pivotal. The win is a landmark moment for Italian rugby, demonstrating their increasing competitiveness on the international stage.
The England team featured a significantly altered backline from their previous match against Ireland, with Jamie George, Alex Coles, Guy Pepper, Ben Spencer, Fin Smith, Cadan Murley, Seb Atkinson, Tom Roebuck and Elliot Daly all starting. Marcus Smith was named on the bench, as reported by ESPN. The changes, however, failed to spark the desired improvement in performance.
This historic win for Italy is more than just a single result; it signifies a turning point in the rivalry and a bold statement of intent from the Azzurri. The impact of this victory will undoubtedly reverberate throughout the remainder of the Six Nations tournament and beyond.
What comes next for both teams remains to be seen. England will need to regroup and address the issues exposed in Rome if they are to salvage anything from their Six Nations campaign. Italy, meanwhile, will look to build on this momentous victory and continue their ascent in the world of international rugby.
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