Italian club Benetton have confirmed that seven players will leave at the end of their disappointing season in the United Rugby Championship.
The Treviso-based club produced a shock win over high-flying Leinster on Saturday night, but that victory was an exception in a campaign where they are drifting in 13th place with just six victories in 16 URC outings. They were also eliminated from the EPCR Challenge Cup at the quarter-final stage.
With their final two matches of the 2025/26 season coming away to the Sharks and the Bulls in South Africa next month, the Italians used their final home fixture of the year versus Leinster to confirm their list of departures ahead of Wayne Pivac’s arrival as new head coach.
Topping the exit list is Tommaso Menoncello, the 23-year-old who has lit up recent Six Nations campaigns with Italy and was voted player of the championship in 2024. He is said to be moving to France to an as-yet-confirmed Top 14 club, most likely Toulouse, but he isn’t the only Benetton player making the switch across the Alps.
“Each of them leaves a mark…”
Former All Blacks midfielder Malakai Fekitoa is also on the move, agreeing to join Pro D2 side Beziers, while Pumas front-rower Thomas Gallo has taken up a four-year deal at Lyon in the Top 14.
Also departing are Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, another Argentinian prop who brought the curtain down on his Test career last year, and lock Eli Snyman, who is switching to Ulster in a two-year contract.
Kiwi lock Scott Scrafton and Argentine scrum-half Nicolas Roger Farias are also leaving the Stadio di Monigo outfit.
Benetton president Antonio Pavanello said: I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to all the athletes who are about to conclude their careers at Benetton.
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“Over these years, they have demonstrated great professionalism, dedication and loyalty to the jersey, contributing significantly to the club’s growth and sharing in important moments of our recent history.
“Each of them leaves a mark, both personally and sportingly, within this group. Our thanks go to them all and we wish them success in their future challenges, both on and off the field.”
Benetton end-of-season leavers
Malakai Fekitoa (3 seasons, 45 appearances, 6 tries)
Thomas Gallo (6 seasons, 91 appearances, 6 goals)
Tommaso Menoncello (6 seasons, 75 appearances, 23 goals)
Nicolas Roger Farias (1 season, 2 appearances)
Scott Scrafton (4 seasons, 30 appearances)
Eli Snyman (5 seasons, 75 appearances)
Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro (5 seasons, 41 appearances)