The best Italians to have ever played in the Gallagher PREM (Ranked 5-1)

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From title winners to cult heroes, we rank the finest Italians to light up England’s top flight.

Hooker Fabio Ongaro built his reputation in Italy before bringing hardened experience to the Premiership. After emerging with Rugby Casale, he enjoyed the most decorated spell of his career at Benetton Treviso, collecting five Italian titles, a domestic cup and a Supercup. His move to Saracens in 2006 added Premiership pedigree to his résumé, where his set-piece reliability and combative edge made him a trusted front-row option.

Internationally, Ongaro was a mainstay for Italy throughout the 2000s. He played every match at the 2003 Rugby World Cup and famously scored the decisive try against Scotland in the 2004 Six Nations. Appointed Italy captain later that year, he earned over a decade of caps before bowing out in 2012.

Welsh-born but Italian-qualified, scrum-half Stephen Varney has carved out a modern Premiership career built on tempo and tenacity. Raised in Pembrokeshire, he progressed through Hartpury before breaking into senior rugby with Gloucester, showcasing sharp service and an instinct for quickening the game.

Eligible through his Italian mother, Varney debuted for Italy during the 2020 Autumn Nations Cup and soon became a regular feature in the Azzurri squad. He was selected for the 2023 Rugby World Cup and continues to represent a new generation of dual-qualified internationals strengthening Italy’s spine.

After a stint in France with Vannes, Varney returned to England to join Exeter Chiefs, committing his future to the club with a contract extension. His blend of Premiership sharpness and international exposure keeps him central to Italy’s long-term ambitions.

Prop Carlos Nieto brought steel to the Italian front row during the mid-2000s and translated that resilience into a successful Premiership career. Debuting for Italy in the 2002 Six Nations, he gradually established himself as a dependable scrummager, earning praise for his performances during the 2006 Championship.

That same year, Nieto moved to Gloucester, marking the start of his English chapter. In 2009 he signed for Saracens, becoming part of the squad that secured the club’s first Premiership title in 2011. His work-rate and physical presence typified the abrasive style that defined Saracens’ rise.

Though never Italy’s most decorated name, Nieto’s contribution to both club and country bridged an era when Italian forwards were earning increasing respect in England’s top flight. He retired at the end of the 2012 to 13 season.

Few Italians have commanded authority in the Premiership quite like lock Marco Bortolami. A born leader, he captained every professional side he represented, including Italy from 2002 until the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

After spells with Petrarca Padova and RC Narbonne, Bortolami joined Gloucester in 2006 and was immediately entrusted with the captaincy. Forming a formidable partnership in the second row, he combined lineout intelligence with relentless work in tight exchanges. Injuries and World Cup duties disrupted parts of his tenure, yet his influence remained undiminished.

At his peak, Bortolami was regarded among Europe’s elite locks, symbolising Italy’s growing stature. His leadership credentials have endured beyond retirement, transitioning into coaching at international level.

Arguably the most iconic Italian to grace the Premiership, prop Martin Castrogiovanni combined destructive scrummaging with surprising flair. Born in Argentina but qualified for Italy, he became a cornerstone of the Azzurri pack across 119 caps.

His move to Leicester Tigers in 2006 proved transformative. Across seven seasons and 145 appearances, he won four Premiership titles and was named Premiership Player of the Season in 2006-07. Equally capable of powering over for tries, he once scored a rare prop hat trick on tour in Japan, Castrogiovanni brought charisma as well as muscle.

Later spells with Toulon and Racing 92 added European silverware, but it was at Welford Road where he became a cult hero. For impact, longevity and honours, no Italian has left a bigger mark on England’s top division.