Six Nations star follows Owen Farrell in stepping away from Test rugby

Italian playmaker Tommaso Allan is taking a break from international rugby and will miss Italy’s Six Nations clash against France next week.

The 30-year-old was a notable absentee from Gonzalo Quesada’s 33-man squad to prepare for the round three clash against Les Bleus, but his omission was not due to his performance.

Like England fly-half Owen Farrell, Allan has decided to take a break from international rugby, citing his mental and physical well-being.

Allan steps back from Test rugby

Allan was the most capped player in the Azzurri squad, having previously represented the side on 80 occasions. He was named on the bench to face Ireland but remained there for the entire match after starting the opener against England.

“The decision was not easy at all. It has been a very tiring year, both physically and mentally,” Allan wrote in a social media post.

“Staying away from my family for consecutive months only made it even harder. The decision was made for my well-being and that of the team. Thank you as always for your continued support. Forza Italia.”

Head coach Quesada backed Allan’s decision and added that he has the full support of him and his coaching team.

“Tommaso is an excellent professional and, even more importantly, a person of unquestionable value,” the Italy coach said.

“Men, even before athletes, are at the centre of our evaluations, and this is why, after having discussed with Tommaso and having fully understood his needs, we decided together with him on an additional period of rest.”

The Perpignan playmaker has since been replaced in the squad by his former Harlequins teammate Louis Lynagh, who could make his Test debut for the Azzurri.

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Louis Lynagh called up

Lynagh, the Treviso-born son of Wallabies great Michael, who also played for the Italian club in the 1990s, quit Harlequins to join Italian club Benetton earlier this week with the aim of representing the Azzurri.

England called him up under ex-head coach Eddie Jones, but he failed to win a cap.

Simone Ferrari and Leonardo Marin have also been recalled, while lock Matteo Canali has earned his first call-up to the squad.

Francois Mey also makes a return, while Seb Negri, Lorenzo Cannone and Iachizzi are unavailable through injury and continue their rehab at their clubs. Prop Pietro Ceccarelli has also been ruled out of the clash with France.

Updated Italy Six Nations squad

Forwards: Simone Ferrari, Danilo Fischetti, Matteo Nocera, Luca Rizzoli, Mirco Spagnolo, Giosuè Zilocchi, Gianmarco Lucchesi, Marco Manfredi, Giacomo Nicotera, Matteo Canali, Niccolò Cannone, Federico Ruzza, Andrea Zambonin, Riccardo Favretto, Alessandro Izekor, Michele Lamaro, Ross Vintcent, Manuel Zuliani

Backs: Alessandro Garbisi, Martin Page-Relo, Stephen Varney, Paolo Garbisi, Leonardo Marin, Juan Ignacio Brex, Tommaso Menoncello, Federico Mori, Marco Zanon, Ange Capuozzo, Monty Ioane, Simone Gesi, Louis Lynagh, Francois Mey, Lorenzo Pani

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