FOUR UNCAPPED PLAYERS TO FACE IRELAND IN ROME AND ENGLAND AWAY

Jan 15 • General News, International, Six Nations • 1475 Views • Comments Off on FOUR UNCAPPED PLAYERS TO FACE IRELAND IN ROME AND ENGLAND AWAY

Italy Head Coach Jacques Brunel named today a 30-man squad ahead of RBS 6 Nations’ 2015 first two rounds.

The Azzurri will assemble in Rome from January 25th to 28th ahead of their home debut against reigning champion Ireland on February 7th in Rome’s Stadio Olimpico. One week later, Brunel’s side will face England in Twickenham.

The french coach, on his fourth season as Azzurri’s supremo, confirmed 25 men from the autumn internationals’ squad, centurion flanker Mauro Bergamasco and winger Giovambattista Venditti re-joining the squad after missing November Tests.

Four uncapped players are named in the Italian squad: 22-year-old centre Giulio Bisegni and 23-year-old winger Michele Visentin, both from Guinness Pro12 team Zebre Rugby, are the newcomers alongside with Benetton Treviso’s utility back Simone Ragusi – who was part of November’s squad but didn’t join the field – and 21-year-old scrumhalf Marcello Violi, the only player from the italian domestic championship Eccellenza to be called-up.

Violi, who’s playing his club rugby for italian reigning champion Cammi Calvisano, was recently selected as a permit player by Zebre Rugby, coming off the bench at Parc y Scarlets in autumn as a replacement scrumhalf for former All Black Brendan Leonard in the second half.

Props

Matias AGUERO (Zebre Rugby, 29 caps)
Martin CASTROGIOVANNI (Toulon RC, 107 caps)
Dario CHISTOLINI (Zebre Rugby, 5 caps)
Alberto DE MARCHI (Sale Sharks, 23 caps)

Hookers

Leonardo GHIRALDINI (Leicester Tigers, 70 caps)
Andrea MANICI (Zebre Rugby, 6 caps)*

Locks

George Fabio BIAGI (Zebre Rugby, 3 caps)
Marco BORTOLAMI (Zebre Rugby, 110 caps)
Joshua FURNO (Newcastle Falcons, 23 caps)*
Quintin GELDENHUYS (Zebre Rugby, 52 caps)

Flanker/n.8

Robert Julian BARBIERI (Leicester Tigers, 38 caps)
Mauro BERGAMASCO (Zebre Rugby, 100 caps)
Simone FAVARO (Benetton Treviso, 23 caps)
Francesco MINTO (Benetton Treviso, 11 caps)
Sergio PARISSE (Stade Francais, 108 caps) – captain
Alessandro ZANNI (Benetton Treviso, 86 caps)

Scrumhalves

Edoardo GORI (Benetton Treviso, 37 caps)*
Guglielmo PALAZZANI (Zebre Rugby, 6 caps)
Marcello VIOLI (Cammi Calvisano, uncapped)

Flyhalves

Tommaso ALLAN (USAP Perpignan, 10 caps)
Kelly HAIMONA (Zebre Rugby, 3 caps)

Backs

Giulio BISEGNI (Zebre Rugby, uncapped)
Michele CAMPAGNARO (Benetton Treviso, 12 caps)*
Andrea MASI (London Wasps, 87 caps)
Luke MCLEAN (Sale Sharks, 63 caps)
Luca MORISI (Benetton Treviso, 9 caps)*
Simone RAGUSI (Benetton Treviso, uncapped)
Leonardo SARTO (Zebre, Rugby, 10 caps)*
Giovambattista VENDITTI (Zebre Rugby, 22 caps)*
Michele VISENTIN (Zebre Rugby, uncapped)*

*”Ivan Francescato” National Academy Member

not considered due to injury: Gonzalo CANALE (La Rochelle), Gonzalo GARCIA (Zebre Rugby), Alberto SGARBI (Benetton Treviso), Samuela VUNISA (Zebre Rugby)