Zebre Parma made history by securing their first-ever victory over Munster with a 42-33 bonus-point win in the United Rugby Championship.
Zebre Parma claimed a converted try five minutes into stoppage time to salvage a 22-22 draw against United Rugby Championship opponents Cardiff in northern Italy.
While most of the focus is currently on the Rugby World Cup in France, the 2023/24 BKT United Rugby Championship season gets under way this weekend.
Italy have made five changes from the team that lost to the All Blacks last week for France this Friday in Lyon, with head coach Kieran Crowley opting to completely change the front-row.
The leading nations in world rugby have to end the self-interest and short-termism that has blighted the game and come together to better support so-called Tier 2 nations and the time is now.
Italy have named their team for the upcoming Pool A match against New Zealand at OL Stadium in Lyon on Friday, 29 September.
With the August 28 deadline now passed for the final submission by all 20 teams of their 33-strong squads travelling to France, the names of the 660 players who will be involved at Rugby World Cup 2023 have been confirmed.
London Irish have bolstered their ranks with the signing of another Italian international, this time midfielder Luca Morisi from Benetton. It was just last week when the Gallagher Premiership club confirmed the capture of 24-year-old Test prop Danilo Fischetti from Zebre.