Barbieri Recalled to Azzurri Training Squad

Toronto native Robert Barbieri is in line for a return to test rugby after being named in Italy’s training group to prepare for the June international series against Scotland, Fiji, and Australia. The Benetton Treviso loose forward has been recalled after missing out on both the November tests and Six Nations. Injuries delayed the start to his season but he has showed strong form in recent weeks playing both as a flanker at No 8. Barbieri is one of 44 players named by Conor O’Shea in the initial training group, with the list to be trimmed to 31 names on May 9.

Veterans Sergio Parisse, Simone Favaro, and Leonardo Ghiraldini were not considered, instead being rested after a long domestic season, while Lorenzo Cittadini will stay home with his new child. Among the injured are Alessandro Zanni, Luke McLean, Luca Morisi, Nicola Quaglio, and Marco Barbini.

Nine uncapped players have been included. Benetton props Federico Zani and Tiziano Pasquali are in search of their first caps, as are hookers Luca Bigi and Luhandre Luus, the latter of South African origin and currently playing for Calvisano. New Zealander Dean Budd, who spent a year playing in Canada with Velox (now Westshore), has previously trained with the squad but has yet to debut, while promising loose forwards Marco Lazzaroni and Giovanni Pettinelli are also included.

In the backs there is room for Calvisano utility back Matteo Minozzi, named as a fullback but also a useful flyhalf, while perhaps the most intriguing inclusion is former Ireland u20 star Ian McKinley. The 27-year-old lost the sight of his left eye after complications from an injury suffered in 2010. He was initially forced into retirement but a change in regulations saw McKinley return to the Pro 12 with Zebre in 2015, and he now qualifies for the Azzurri via residency.

FORWARDS
Pietro Ceccarelli (Zebre), Dario Chistolini (Zebre), Andrea Lovotti (Zebre), Simone Ferrari (Benetton Treviso), Sami Panico (Calvisano), Tiziano Pasquali (Benetton Treviso), Federico Zani (Benetton Treviso), Luca Bigi (Benetton Treviso), Tommaso D’Apice (Zebre), Oliviero Fabiani (Zebre), Ornel Gega (Benetton Treviso), Luhandre Luus (Calvisano), George Biagi (Zebre), Dean Budd (Benetton Treviso), Joshua Furno (Zebre), Marco Fuser (Benetton Treviso), Dries van Schalkwyk (Zebre), Robert Barbieri (Benetton Treviso), Marco Lazzaroni (Benetton Treviso), Maxime Mbanda (Zebre), Sebastian Negri (Hartpury, UK), Giovanni Pettinelli (Calvisano), Federico Ruzza (Zebre), Braam Steyn (Benetton Treviso)

BACKS
Giorgio Bronzini (Benetton Treviso), Edoardo Gori (Benetton Treviso), Tito Tebaldi (Benetton Treviso), Marcello Violi (Zebre), Tommaso Allan (Benetton Treviso), Carlo Canna (Zebre), Ian McKinley (Benetton Treviso), Tommaso Benvenuti (Benetton Treviso), Giulio Bisegni (Zebre), Tommaso Boni (Zebre), Michele Campagnaro (Exeter Chiefs, UK), Tommaso Castello (Zebre), Mattia Bellini (Zebre), Angelo Esposito (Benetton Treviso), Leonardo Sarto (Glasgow Warriors, UK), Giovanbattista Venditti (Zebre), Matteo Minozzi (Calvisano), Edoardo Padovani (Zebre), Luca Sperandio (Benetton Treviso)