Andrea Zambonin Joins Exeter Chiefs: A New Chapter in Rugby Union

Italian rugby star Andrea Zambonin signs with Exeter Chiefs, marking a significant move in his career and the team's strategy for the upcoming season.

Andrea Zambonin

Andrea Zambonin, the dynamic Italian lock, has officially agreed to join the Exeter Chiefs for the next season. This move comes as Zambonin concludes his tenure with Zebre, where he has made 60 appearances since his debut in September 2021.

Career Highlights

  • 10 Caps for Italy: Zambonin has represented Italy 10 times, making his debut against England in the 2022 Six Nations.
  • URC Experience: With 60 appearances for Zebre in the United Rugby Championship, Zambonin has proven his mettle on the field.

The Move to Exeter Chiefs

Zambonin expressed his excitement about joining the Exeter Chiefs, stating, "I'm excited and honoured to play for a club with such a rich history as Exeter Chiefs. Playing in the Gallagher Premiership has always been a dream of mine, and it's what's driven me to give my best over the years."

Strategic Addition

Rob Baxter, Exeter's director of rugby, highlighted the strategic importance of Zambonin's addition: "We'll have some rotation at the lock position at the end of the season, so Andrea coming in is a very important part of the additions we'll make to our frontline playing group. He's young, ambitious and he obviously knows Ross Vintcent very well. For us it's another move forward, bringing in international-quality players in the pack in particular."

Future Prospects

Exeter Chiefs are looking to balance their squad with a mix of youth and experience. Baxter added, "We want to create a group that has a mix of experience towards the higher-experienced end of the scale. In recent seasons our experience range has been more on the youth and exuberance side of things, but we'd like to get that balance up a little across the squad moving forward."

Related Topics

  • Exeter Chiefs
  • Rugby Union

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