Ion Neculai

Ion Neculai
Date of birth (2001-01-25) 25 January 2001 (age 23)
Place of birthChișinău, Moldova
Height189 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight132 kg (291 lb; 20 st 11 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Prop
Current team Zebre Parma
Youth career
Rugby Club I Cavalieri Prato
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2019–2021 F.I.R. Academy ()
2021– Zebre Parma 25 (5)
Correct as of 24 Dec 2022
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2020–2021 Italy U20 8 (15)
2021 Italy A 2 (0)
2022– Italy 3 (0)
Correct as of 12 Nov 2022

Ion Neculai (born 25 January 2001) is a Moldovan-born Italian professional rugby union player who primarily plays prop for Zebre Parma of the United Rugby Championship.[1][2]

Professional career

Neculai has previously played for clubs such as I Cavalieri in the past. He signed for Zebre in July 2021 ahead of the 2021–22 United Rugby Championship.[3] He made his debut in Round 1 of the 2021–22 season against the Lions.[4]

In 2020 and 2021 Neculai was named in Italy U20s squad for annual Six Nations Under 20s Championship.[5] On 14 October 2021, he was selected by Alessandro Troncon to be part of an Italy A 28-man squad for the 2021 end-of-year rugby union internationals.[6] On 30 May 2022, Neculai was selected by Kieran Crowley to be part of an Italy 33-man squad for the 2022 mid-year rugby union tests. He made his debut against Portugal.[7][8]

References

  1. ^ "Ion Neculai". Ultimate Rugby. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  2. ^ "Ion Neculai". Zebre Parma.
  3. ^ "I due giovani avanti sono pronti ad esordie nell'EPCR Challenge Cup e nel nuovo torneo internazionale United Rugby Championship". Zebre Rugby (in Italian). 21 July 2021. Archived from the original on 21 July 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  4. ^ "Lions make thrilling, winning start to URC". SA Rugby Magazine. 24 September 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  5. ^ "Italia U20, Gli Azzurrini Convocati per Il Sei Nazioni 2021".
  6. ^ "Italia A, gli azzurri convocati per il match contro la Spagna". FIR (in Italian). 14 October 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  7. ^ ITALRUGBY, GLI AZZURRI CONVOCATI PER IL TOUR ESTIVO 2022
  8. ^ "Italrugby, il XV per l'esordio nel tour contro il Portogallo". Italy Rugby (in Italian). 25 June 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2022.


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