Sami Panico

Sami Panico is a hooker with Zebre Parma who reached Test rugby the hard way, earning his first Italy cap in his thirties after years of consistent service in the professional game. Born on 4 June 1993, he made his senior international debut during the 2024 Six Nations, against Scotland. Panico's value is rooted in the unglamorous work of front-row play. He is a physical presence in the loose, prepared to carry into congested areas and to make the tackle count in defence, and he has built a reputation for reliability in the scrum, where Zebre have long needed experienced operators to hold the platform against stronger packs. At club level he functions as one of the senior pillars of the Zebre forward effort, offering stability at the set-piece and steady work at the breakdown across a demanding United Rugby Championship season. That consistency, rather than any single spectacular attribute, is what brought him to the attention of the Italy coaching staff. His late international breakthrough reflects both his own persistence and the depth Italian rugby has developed in the front row, and he remains an important figure in the Zebre pack.