Transalpine coach Gonzalo Quesada revealed his group of 34 players to launch the Tournament against Scotland.
Perpignan fly-half (Top 14) Tommaso Allan and Vannes scrum-half (Top 14) Stephen Varney are in Italy’s group to prepare for the Six Nations Tournament, the composition of which was announced on Friday. Allan, holder of the record for points scored by an Italian in the Tournament (165), announced last February, after Italy’s narrow defeat by England (27-24), to distance himself from international rugby.
He only returned in November against Argentina, where he came on as a substitute for the injured Ange Capuozzo. Himself injured, he then had to give up test matches against Georgia and New Zealand. Scrum half Stephen Varney, who moved in October from the English club Gloucester to the French club Vannes, promoted to the Top 14, was not selected for the November tests. He is back in the group.
Among the other players playing in the Top 14, we find the Toulonnais Gianmarco Lucchesi and Paolo Garbisi, the Lyonnais Martin Page-Relo and Monty Ioane (Lyon) as well as Giacomo Nicotera (Stade Français). A group which also includes the winger Simone Gesi, who takes the place of Louis Lynagh, had knee ligament surgery at the start of the week and was deprived of the Tournament.
The Italian XV will begin its campaign in the Six Nations Tournament by challenging Scotland, whom it beat last year at home 31-29, on February 1 at Murrayfield.
The Italian group:
Forwards (20): Simone Ferrari (Benetton Trevise), Danilo Fischetti (Zebre Parma), Marco Riccioni (Saracens), Luca Rizzoli (Zebre Parma), Giosue Zilocchi (Benetton Trevise), Gianmarco Lucchesi (Toulon), Giacomo Nicotera (Stade français), Niccolo Cannone ( Benetton Trevise), Dino Lamb (Harlequins), Riccardo Favretto (Benetton Trevise), Federico Ruzza (Benetton Trevise), Lorenzo Cannone (Benetton Trevise), Alessandro Izekor (Benetton Trevise), Michele Lamaro (Benetton Trevise), Sebastian Negri (Benetton Trevise), Ross Vintcent (Exeter), Manuel Zuliani (Benetton Trevise).
Backs (14): Alessandro Garbisi (Benetton Trévise), Martin Page-Relo (Lyon), Stephen Varney (Vannes), Tommaso Allan (Perpignan), Paolo Garbisi (Toulon), Leonardo Marin (Benetton Trévise), Juan Ignacio Brex (Benetton Trévise), Tommaso Menoncello (Benetton Trévise), Ange Capuozzo (Toulouse), Matt Gallagher (Benetton Trévise), Simone Gesi (Zebre Parma), Monty Ioane (Lyon), Jacopo Trulla (Zebre Parma).
