Italy name ten uncapped players

Editor

Italy head coach Jacques Brunel has included ten uncapped players in his 30-man squad for the upcoming Six Nations Championship.

Hooker Ornel Gega, secondrows Andrea Lovotti and Matthew Zanusso and back row trio Jacopo Sarto, Andries van Schalkwyk and Abraham Steyn are among the new faces up front as the Azzurri bring in new blood for 2016’s tournament.

In the backline, fly-half Edoardo Padovani, centres Mattia Bellini and Tommaso Castello and wing David Odiete are the other uncapped players.

Led by captain and number eight Sergio Parisse, Italy kick-off their Six Nations campaign against France in Paris on Saturday, February 6.

Italy’s Six Nations squad

Forwards: Martin Castrogiovanni, Dario Chistolini, Lorenzo Cittadini, Andrea Lovotti, Matteo Zanusso, Ornel Gega, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Valerio Bernabo, George Fabio Biagi, Marco Fuser, Francesco Minto, Sergio Parisse, Jacopo Sarto, Abraham Steyn, Andries van Schalkwyk, Alessandro Zanni.

Backs: Edoardo Gori, Guglielmo Palazzani, Carlo Canna, Edoardo Padovani, Mattia Bellini, Giulio Bisegni, Michele Campagnaro, Tommaso Castello, Gonzalo Garcia, Kelly Haimona, Luke McLean, David Odiete, Andrea Pratichetti, Leonardo Sarto.