Mattia Midena

Mattia Midena, born on 19 September 2005, is a back-row forward in the Benetton Treviso set-up and a product of Italian rugby's academy structure. As a flanker in the United Rugby Championship, he operates within a Benetton system that has built its identity on a hard-edged forward pack and a willingness to give academy graduates senior exposure. Midena's age-grade involvement reflects Italy's continued investment in developing back-row talent capable of competing in the URC and, eventually, the Six Nations. His core duties are the familiar flanker remit: defensive line speed, ruck contests, low-carrying work in tight channels and the link play that connects forwards with a back-line under increasing pressure to play with width. With Benetton historically blooding young Italian forwards relatively early, Midena's progression is one to watch as he transitions from academy fixtures to consistent senior involvement in the URC and the European Challenge Cup.