World champions New Zealand return to the most prestigious stage of Italian rugby, Rome’s Stadio Olimpico, to take on Conor O’Shea’s Italian side on Saturday 24 November. This Cattolica Test Match will bring the autumnal trio of Italy’s home games to a close. The high-stakes game against the “black wave” of the All Blacks, the undisputed leaders of the World Rugby rankings, was presented during a press conference organised on 1 October at the Chiostro di Bramante in Rome. It was attended by CONI President Giovanni Malagò, FIR Chairman Alfredo Gavazzi, and Paolo Bedoni and Alberto Minali, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer respectively of Cattolica Assicurazioni. During the event, the FIR and technical sponsor Macron also unveiled the new Italrugby away shirt – a preview of which was given by the two Italian athletes Maxime Mbandà and Federico Zani.

“Our national team is called upon to face a team, who, more than anyone else, represents the history of rugby,” stated Chairman Paolo Bedoni. “We are sure that they will put their inhibitions and fears aside, and when they come up against the world’s best, be conscious of the value and strength of their adversaries, but also unquestioning of their own possibility and ability. In the coming years, Cattolica has decided to follow the growth of the entire national rugby movement, with whose values it identifies.”

“I am pleased to be presenting an event of this stature,” added CEO Alberto Minali. “The challenge that Italy is readying itself for against the most victorious rugby team of all time not only represents an unmissable event for rugby fans, but an exciting time for all. I am certain that our national players will give it their all to honour the shirt and entertain us with an afternoon of great sport. In our collective imagination, New Zealand’s victories are the perfect metaphor of how union signifies strength and success. At Cattolica we like to make an analogy with this world, because our company embraces the same community of values.”