Italy star Niccolo\u00a0Cannone has been slapped with a four-game ban for his headbutt on All Blacks star Cam Roigard in the Azzurri\u2019s 47-17 defeat to New Zealand in the Nations Championship.<\/p>\n
The second-rower was issued a yellow card in the 52nd minute of the game, with the incident sent to be reviewed by the Foul Player Review Officer, who upgraded the sanction to a 20-minute red card.<\/p>\n
However, many onlookers believed that Cannone should have been shown a permanent red card from the outset, as acts of thuggery can still be sanctioned in that manner.<\/p>\n
Niccolo Cannone banned<\/p>\n
The Nations Championship has now issued a statement confirming that the Azzurri star will miss Italy\u2019s final July international against Australia as well as Benetton\u2019s first three games of the new season.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Foul Play Review Committee (FPRC) has found Italy lock\u00a0Niccolo\u00a0Cannone\u00a0guilty of physical abuse in contravention of Law 9.12.\u00a0The dangerous play, for which\u00a0Cannone\u00a0received a red card, occurred in the 52nd\u00a0minute of the Nations Championship<\/a> match between New Zealand<\/a> and Italy<\/a> at Hnry Stadium, Wellington,\u201d the statement read.<\/p>\n \u201cThe FPRC determined that the act of foul play merited a low-end entry point of six weeks\/matches. In light of Cannone\u2019s acceptance that he committed an act of foul play worthy of ordering off, as well as mitigating factors such as his disciplinary record, conduct, and remorse, the FPRC applied a 2-week reduction to the sanction.<\/p>\n \u201cCannone has been suspended from all forms of the game for four weeks, which will apply to the fixtures below.<\/p>\n \u2013 Australia v Italy, Saturday, 18 July 2026 All Blacks legend: There is an \u2018issue\u2019 if World Rugby continues down TMO path as officials \u2018just not good enough\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n Dave Rennie clarifies TMO comments as \u2018work to be done\u2019 by World Rugby after All Blacks v Italy interference<\/a><\/p>\n Gonzalo Quesada\u2019s \u2018harsh\u2019 claim<\/p>\n Speaking after the match, Italy head coach Gonzalo Quesada\u00a0took issue with the sending off.<\/p>\n \u201cI think the 20-minute red card on our number four, Niccolo Cannone, held up on the floor by [All Black] 17 and not even seeing it, is a bit harsh,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Benetton Rugby v Zebre Parma, Saturday, 4 September 2026
\u2013 Black Lion v Benetton Rugby, Saturday, 12 September 2026
\u2013 Benetton Rugby v Dragons, Friday, 25 September 2026\u201d<\/p>\n