Italy and Germany each played an under-18 international for the first time in Piacenza, north west Italy, as a curtain raiser to the European Shield match. In sweltering conditions the well-drilled Italians got on top of their opponents early, and never looked like losing despite a spirited second half performance by Germany.

Italy's eye-catching back row was the dominant force in the match, wtih the hard-running trio of Andrea Cecchetto, Claudio Campione and Filippo Albertin combining for four of Italy's six tries. The Germans squandered numerous attacking opportunities in the first half, which ended 24-6. Germany prop Loris Geibel, who trained with the senior national team in May, bagged two of Germany's tries.

The match was watched by Catalan Dragons talent scout Andre Girbal, wiht the Super League poised to announce an alliance with the Federazione Italiana Rugby League.

Pictured: Italy's impressive fullback Samuele Montanari gets the ball away.
Photo credit: Photo Petrarelli-Beltramini

ITALY U18
Samuele Montanari, Klajdo Vogli, Federico ONgaro, Gregorio Bellassi, Gianluca Ferro, Lorenzo Luccardi, Eddy Rivetti, Stefano Scorzelli, Simone Boscolo, Alberto Pasin, Andrea Cecchetti, Claudio Campioni, Filippo Albertin. Subs: Riccardo Miatton, Mattia Gennaro, Ghanadje Sagaidac, Gianmaria Groppelli

GERMANY U18
Simon Schafer, Wolfgang Polter, Paul Rettwitz, Kevin Frohmuller, Gunay Akbaba, Luis Marin, Oliver Seelinger, Marcel Danzer, Hakan Unal, Loris Geibel, Niklas Heiss, Leif Van Skywark, Florian Rambow. Subs: Nikolai Sailer, Kai Jansen, Abraham Gresham, Marco Dolzbacher, Hakan Unal