Italy names experienced Six Nations squad

Canada’s opening opponents in the World Cup have named their squad for the Six Nations. Conor O’Shea has included just one uncapped player on his Italy roster as he looks to narrow in on his final 31 for the flagship event in Japan.

Zebre lock David Sisi is the newcomer. The 25-year-old represented England at u20 level but qualifies for Italy through his grandparents. Sisi was also eligible for Germany, where he was born, and Scotland, where his father Carlo was born.

Earning a recall to the side after a three-year absence is Benetton loose forward Marco Barbini. He fills in for injured Gloucester star Jake Polledri. Also unavailable are long-term casualty Ornel Gega and fellow front row Federico Zani, back row Renato Giammarioli, scrumhalf Marcello Violi, and outside backs Mattia Bellini and Matteo Minozzi.

Sergio Parisse returns as captain after missing both the June and November tests, and he is joined by another test centurion in Alessandro Zanni. Set to join the 100-cap club is hooker Leonardo Ghiraldini who is currently on 99 test appearances for the Azzurri.

As expected nearly the entire squad comes from those based with the two Italian Pro 14 franchises Zebre and Benetton Treviso. Only three come from outside Italy – Parisse from Stade Français, Toulouse-based Ghiraldini, and Wasps centre Michele Campagnaro.

Italy open their tournament against Scotland on February 2.

FORWARDS
Simone Ferrari (Benetton Treviso), Andrea Lovotti (Zebre), Tiziano Pasquali (Benetton Treviso), Cherif Traore (Benetton Treviso), Giosuè Zilocchi (Zebre), Luca Bigi (Benetton Treviso), Leonardo Ghiraldini (Toulouse, FR), Dean Budd (Benetton Treviso), Federico Ruzza (Benetton Treviso), David Sisi (Zebre), Alessandro Zanni (Benetton Treviso), Marco Barbini (Benetton Treviso), Maxime Mbanda (Zebre), Sebastian Negri (Benetton Treviso), Sergio Parisse (capt., Stade Français, FR), Braam Steyn (Benetton Treviso), Jimmy Tuivaiti (Zebre)

BACKS
Guglielmo Palazzani (Zebre), Tito Tebaldi (Benetton Treviso), Tommaso Allan (Benetton Treviso), Carlo Canna (Zebre), Ian McKinley (Benetton Treviso), Tommaso Castello (Zebre), Luca Morisi (Benetton Treviso), Giulio Bisegni (Zebre), Michele Campagnaro (Wasps, UK), Tommaso Benvenuti (Benetton Treviso), Angelo Esposito (Benetton Treviso), Luca Sperandio (Benetton Treviso), Jayden Hayward (Benetton Treviso), Edoardo Padovani (Zebre)