Juventus secures long-term deal for rugby at Allianz Stadium

Allianz Stadium’s staging of its first major non-football event will be part of a long-term deal between Serie A club Juventus and the Italian Rugby Federation (FIR), the two parties have confirmed.

In June, it was announced that the Turin venue, Juventus’ home since 2011, will stage Italy’s Autumn Nations Series clash against New Zealand on November 23. However, it has now been declared that elite rugby union will return to the stadium in 2025 and 2026, as part of a three-year deal.

Turin has hosted the Italian national team on three previous occasions, all at the Stadio Olimpico, home of Juventus’ rivals, Torino. The last such game came nine years ago – a warm-up match for the 2015 Rugby World Cup against Scotland.

Italy’s return to Turin comes in the form of a box office clash against the All Blacks, culminating an Autumn Nations Series schedule that also includes home games for Italy against Argentina in Udine on November 9 and Georgia on November 17 in Genoa.

Confirmation of the three-year deal for Turin and Juventus comes with the provision that the most prestigious of the Autumn Nations Series fixtures will be played at Allianz Stadium each year.

Andrea Duodo, president of the FIR, said: “Fifteen years after the historic challenge at San Siro, we are bringing the All Blacks back to the heart of Northern Italy, to one of the most iconic stadiums in our country.

“An event that has immediately captured the attention and imagination of everyone, rugby players and fans of all sports. We are hosting the most legendary rugby team in the world, the most fearsome opponent, in the most evocative stadium. Everything is ready to experience an evening of rugby that will remain in the memory of all of us.”

Juventus president, Gianluca Ferrero, added: “We are happy to be able to open the doors of the Allianz Stadium to the Italian national rugby team, in what will be the first major non-football event hosted since its opening.

“As Juventus, we have always been very attentive to events in our territory and also in this case we wanted to give a strong sign and accompany the approach to this great match with the exhibition ‘The Hearth of Rugby’ that we will host inside the Juventus Stadium until November 24.”