ROME: March 7, 2026, will go down in rugby history for Italy after their historic 23-18 victory over England at the Stadio Olimpico.

For decades, this fixture had been the only consistent constant in the Six Nations—a guaranteed result for the English. However, after 33 attempts and 35 years of waiting, the Azzurri finally shattered their 100pc losing record against the men in white, sparking scenes of jubilation in the Eternal City.

The match began with England looking to steady a ship that had already been rocked by successive defeats to Scotland and Ireland. Early on, it appeared the status quo might hold.

Tries from Tommy Freeman and Tom Roebuck, combined with the reliable boot of Fin Smith, allowed England to carve out an 18-10 lead. At that stage, Italy seemed to be fading, their early energy dampened by a clinical, if uninspired, English clinical edge.

The turning point arrived in the 57th minute when England’s discipline evaporated. A yellow card for Sam Underhill provided the spark Italy needed, and fly-half Paolo Garbisi punished the visitors with two quick penalties, narrowing the gap to two points.

When captain Maro Itoje was also sent to the sin-bin shortly after, England were left to defend a two-man disadvantage against a surging Italian side that suddenly smelled blood.

With only two minutes remaining, the decisive moment arrived. The ever-dangerous Tommaso Menoncello tore through the English line on the left wing before delivering a perfect offload to substitute Leonardo Marin, who dived over to seal the win.

For Italy, this was more than just a victory; it was a validation of the progress made under head coach Gonzalo Quesada.

beating Scotland earlier in the tournament, Italy has officially transitioned from the “easy win” on the calendar to a genuine European powerhouse. Conversely, for Steve Borthwick and England, the result marks a historic low, leaving the team facing their worst-ever Six Nations campaign and an existential crisis regarding their tactical direction.

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