Mallett names Italy squad for November

Azzuri coach Nick Mallett has announced the names of 29 players who will form most of Italy's squad for three November Test matches against Australia, Argentina and the Pacific Islands.

Azzuri coach Nick Mallett has announced the names of 29 players who will form most of Italy's squad for three November Test matches against Australia, Argentina and the Pacific Islands.

Gloucester's Marco Bortolami, the country's youngest captain, is one of a number of players absent due to club commitments – none of the Italians currently in the Guinness Premiership are included, but several will be added sometime in October.

Italy will kick off their November Test series against Australia on November 8, playing Argentina a week later, then ending the tour against the Pacific Islands on November 22.

Forwards:

Robert Barbieri (Treviso), Mauro Bergamasco (Stade Francais/FRA), Salvatore Costanzo (Treviso), Carlo Antonio Del Fava (Ulster/NIR), Santiago Dellape (Toulon/FRA), Paul Derbyshire (Padua), Jaco Erasmus (Viadana), Carlo Festuccia (Racing Metro/FRA), Leonardo Ghiraldini (Calvisano), Andrea Lo Cicero (Racing Metro/FRA), Sergio Parisse (Stade Francais/FRA), Salvatore Perugini (Toulouse/FRA), Tommaso Reato (Rovigo), Michele Rizzo (Padua), Alessandro Zanni (Calvisano)

Backs:

Mirco Bergamasco (Stade Francais/FRA), Gonzalo Canale (Clermont/FRA), Pablo Canavosio (Viadana), Gonzalo Garcia (Calvisano), Andrea Marcato (Treviso), Andrea Masi (Biarritz/FRA), Luke McLean (Calvisano), Luciano Orquera (Brive/FRA), Riccardo Pavan (Parma), Simon Picone (Treviso), Matteo Pratichetti (Calvisano), Kaine Robertson (Viadana), Michele Sepe (Capitolina Rome), Giulio Toniolatti (Capitolina Rome)