Zambonin looking to flourish in Chiefs environment

The imposing physical stature of Italian international Andrea Zambonin is ironically in complete contrast to the friendly nature of the lock who is fast becoming a favourite amongst teammates and supporters alike.

Standing at 6ft 9in tall, lock Zambonin was one of the headline signings of summer 2025 for Rob Baxter’s squad when he made the move to Devon from United Rugby Championship side Zebre.

His transition was made a rather smooth one by the presence of Italian teammates Ross Vintcent and Stephen Varney in an already welcoming environment.

Zambonin said: “They weren’t the reason I signed but having them here has definitely helped me to be more relaxed. I asked Ross a couple of things before arriving, and his advice helped me to know what I was getting myself in for. I was always looking forward to coming.

“Straight from the beginning, I’ve always said that our group is really good. I think it’s the strength of this team, how close we are. Everyone makes you feel welcome. It’s quite a young group, and maybe that’s why we all connect to each other so well.”

One teammate in particular who Zambonin has had to work on creating a bond with on-field is fellow international, and Chiefs match captain, Dafydd Jenkins. The pair have featured in the second row together nine times already this season and it is a working relationship that both believe is flourishing.

Zambonin said: “It’s been really good playing with Daf! I think we match each other well in style, and in lineouts we have a good feeling on what to do. He’s a leader and a captain, so he’s good to play with. I think we can help each other to grow.”

Chiefs forward coach Ross McMillan is heavily invested in the growth and development of members of the pack. 25-year-old Zambonin believes he has already started to benefit from the tutelage of the former PREM hooker.

He said: “I think Ross is a really good coach, passionate about what he does. He’s got really good rugby knowledge, and is a good overall coach. As a person, he cares so much about the players, and I think that’s important because you want to do more when you see him caring so much for you all.”

Results and performances in the league portray a team which is determined, talented and hungry to achieve more. Chiefs currently sit third in a highly competitive domestic competition, and one which was a large incentive for Zambonin signing to Exeter in the first place.

He said: “Playing in the PREM has always been a dream for me growing up. I like the way teams play, the intensity of the game is high and there are really good teams with very talented players.

“It’s been exciting to be a part of. I’m still in that phase of playing against some teams for the first time, so I’m seeing every week as a new challenge.

“We also have Europe, which is a good opportunity to see different styles of play, and poses a new challenge for everyone. It’ll be interesting to see what we can do in the next couple of weeks.”

At the conclusion of next weekend’s game against Cardiff Rugby, the thoughts of players, coaches and supporters alike will more than likely turn to the fast-approaching Guinness Six Nations tournament.

Since his debut against England in February 2022, Zambonin has earned more than 10 caps for his country. He doesn’t want to pre-empt any announcements, but the passion when he discusses his international hopes is clear in abundance.

Zambonin said: “I still don’t know the squad, but I’d love to be included for Italy. Last year, I couldn’t take part in the competition because I was injured, so this would be the first opportunity for me to have a key role. It’ll be interesting and challenging too.

“To play for Italy is the most important goal you can achieve. You grow up looking at legends of the Italian squad, dreaming of getting to do what they do, so when you actually get the chance to wear the shirt, it’s very emotional. We want to have better results, we don’t just want to play, we want to win. I think we’re improving a lot, so we’ll see.

“For me personally, I’d love to get more minutes and have more of a key role in the team. I think coming here could help me a lot with that goal because it’s helped me to start to develop a different way of seeing the game.”