Italy Boss Conor O’Shea Names His First Six Nations Squad

Italy head coach Conor O’Shea has named a 32-man squad ahead of their Six Nations campaign.

The Azzuri’s campaign kicks off against Wales on February 5 and O’Shea will no doubt be hoping to build on a strong November series, which saw his side famously defeat the Springboks.

Sergio Parisse is joined by Marco Barbini, Simone Favaro, Maxime Mata Mbanda’, Francesco Minto and Abraham Steyn in the back-row. Second-row Federico Ruzza is the only uncapped player in the squad.

The scrum-halves available to O’Shea are Giorgio Bronzini, Edoardo Gori and Marcello Violi while Tommaso Allan, Carlo Canna are the 10s.

Tommaso Benvenuti, Tommaso Boni, Michele Campagnaro, Luke McLean are the four centres, Giulio Bisegni, Angelo Esposito, Giovambattista Venditti are named as wings while Edoardo Padovani is the lone full-back as Italy look to improve on last year’s Wooden Spoon effort.

Italy squad for Six Nations

Forwards: Pietro Ceccarelli, Dario Chistolini, Lorenzo Cittadini, Andrea Lovotti, Sami Panico, Tommaso D’Apice, Ornel Gega, Leonardo Ghiraldini, George Fabio Biagi, Joshua Furno, Marco Fuser, Federico Ruzza, Andries Van Schalkwyk, Marco Barbini, Simone Favaro, Maxime Mata Mbanda’, Francesco Minto, Sergio Parisse (c), Abraham Jurgens Steyn

Backs: Giorgio Bronzini, Edoardo Gori, Marcello Violi, Tommaso Allan, Carlo Canna, Tommaso Benvenuti, Tommaso Boni, Michele Campagnaro, Luke McLean, Giulio Bisegni, Angelo Esposito, Giovambattista Venditti, Edoardo Padovani