Italy call-up for Bergamasco

Editor

Experienced wing Mirco Bergamasco has been included in Italy's Six Nations squad after recovering from a serious knee injury.

Experienced Rovigo winger Mirco Bergamasco has been included in Italy's Six Nations Championship squad after recovering from injury.

The younger Bergamasco brother, who has 89 Azzurri caps since 2002, broke his left knee cap against Australia more than a year ago.

Treviso prop Alberto De Marchi and flanker Paul Derbyshire are also back in the squad after missing the November Tests with injuries.

Wingers Angelo Esposito (Treviso) and Guglielmo Palazzani (Zebre) could make their debuts, with the latter called for the first time.

The 30-man squad will gather in Rome on January 19 ahead of their Six Nations opener against holders Wales in Cardiff on February 1.

Italy Six Nations squad

Forwards (16): Martin Castrogiovanni (Toulon), Lorenzo Cittadini (Treviso), Alberto De Marchi (Treviso), Michele Rizzo (Treviso), Leonardo Ghiraldini (Treviso), Davide Giazzon (Zebre), Marco Bortolami (Zebre), Marco Fuser (Treviso), Quintin Geldenhuys (Zebre), Antonio Pavanello (Treviso), Robert Barbieri (Treviso), Mauro Bergamasco (Zebre), Paul Derbyshire (Treviso), Joshua Furno (Biarritz), Sergio Parisse (Stade Francais, capt), Alessandro Zanni (Treviso).

Backs (14): Tobias Botes (Treviso), Edoardo Gori (Treviso), Tommaso Allan (Perpignan), Luciano Orquera (Zebre), Tommaso Benvenuti (Perpignan), Michele Campagnaro (Treviso), Gonzalo Garcia (Zebre), Alberto Sgarbi (Treviso), Mirco Bergamasco (Rovigo), Angelo Esposito (Treviso), Tommaso Iannone (Zebre), Luke McLean (Treviso), Guglielmo Palazzani (Zebre), Leonardo Sarto (Zebre).