It's also the first ever visit of the Dubliners in Parma: last season's encounter was held in Reggio Emilia -25 km from Parma- on the fundraising event RUGBY VS EARTHQUAKE to support the population affected by the 2012 earthquake organised by Conad Centro Nord, the wholesale food dealer jersey's partner of Zebre.
This fixture comes into the Six Nations 2014 window, where both Zebre and Leinster proudly offer many players for their national teams for the international duties, in particular 9 zebras are capped by Italy facing France in Paris at 4pm on the same matchday.
For this reason, Zebre will boost their side with four permit players who join the black & white roster from the main Italian league, Eccellenza. One of them, Haimona from Rugby Calvisano, will start as fly-half to shape a whole new Kiwi half back partneship with the former All Black Brendon Leonard.
The other three permit players will be ready to earn their first ever RaboDirect PRO12 cap starting from the bench. Hooker Giovanchelli (28) and flanker Bernini (25) come from I Cavalieri Prato while utility back Bisegni (22) comes from one of the three Eccellenza clubs based in Rome, Lazio Rugby 1927.
Zebre' skipper will be the experienced prop Aguero who is set to lead the Italian team out against coach Matt O'Connor's side for his first time ever, becoming the 7th franchise captain overall.
Here's Zebre line-up for Sunday 9 February 2014 at Stadio XXV Aprile in Parma (Italy) for the 13nd round of the RaboDirect PRO12 against Leinster Rugby. Kick off at 6.00 pm local time :
15 Ruggero TREVISAN*
14 Giulio TONIOLATTI
13 Roberto QUARTAROLI*
12 Kameli RATUVOU
11 David ODIETE*
10 Kelly HAIMONA
9 Brendon LEONARD
8 Samuela VUNISA
7 Andries VAN SCHALKWYK
6 Filippo FERRARINI*
5 George BIAGI
4 Emiliano CAFFINI*
3 Dario CHISTOLINI
2 Tommaso D'APICE*
1 Matias AGUERO (cap)
Replacements :
16 Lorenzo GIOVANCHELLI
17 Andrea DE MARCHI
18 David RYAN
19 Michael VAN VUREN
20 Giacomo BERNINI*
21 Alberto CHILLON*
22 Giulio BISEGNI
23 Filippo CRISTIANO
All.Andrea CAVINATO
Not available for selection due to injury: Paolo BUSO, Nicola CATTINA, Filippo CAZZOLA*, Andrea MANICI*, Salvatore PERUGINI, Matteo PRATICHETTI, Giovanbattista VENDITTI*
Referee: Neil Hennessy (Wales Rugby Union) The Welsh referee is at his 18th match in the RaboDirect PRO12, fourth time with Zebre overall.
Assistant Referees: Filippo Bertelli e Francesco Russo (Both Federazione Italiana Rugby)
TMO: Carlo Damasco (Federazione Italiana Rugby)
Live tv coverage in Italy on Mediaset Italia 2. Live score text coverage on www.rabodirectpro12.com/live
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