Eli Snyman

Zimbabwean forward Eli Snyman, born on 25 January 1996, brings a rangy second-row and back-row profile to the Benetton Rugby squad in the United Rugby Championship. Having captained the Sables during Zimbabwe's 2023 Rugby World Cup qualifying campaign, he arrives at the Treviso-based franchise with the leadership experience of operating at the top end of Africa's second-tier international rugby environment. Snyman's game is built around the physical and technical fundamentals of forward play: lineout work, scrum contribution and a willingness to carry into contact. His ability to switch between the second row and blindside flanker gives the Benetton coaching staff a versatile option for managing week-to-week squad rotation across the URC and European competition. Benetton's modern identity leans on a steadily improving set-piece platform and a willingness to keep ball in hand, and forwards capable of covering multiple positions are a valuable part of that model. Snyman's focus within the squad is to bring senior experience to the forward pack, support the development of younger Italian-qualified forwards coming through the club's pathway and contribute consistently across the URC's demanding fixture list and Challenge Cup involvement.