Andrea Zambonin to Miss Start of Season After Shoulder Surgery

Exeter Chiefs lock Andrea Zambonin is expected to be unavailable until the end of November after undergoing shoulder surgery. The 25-year-old Italy international will miss the start of the 2026-2027 season due to this injury.

Zambonin had played 27 matches in his debut season with the Chiefs, including the Premiership final against Northampton. Following his return from Italy's summer games, he experienced a persistent shoulder issue that required surgical intervention, as confirmed by Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter.

In addition to Zambonin, fellow lock Dafydd Jenkins also had shoulder surgery this summer and will miss Wales' summer Nations Championship fixtures but may return at the season's start. Exeter's pre-season matches are set to begin on September 5 against Scarlets, leading up to their first Premiership game against Gloucester on September 26.