Son of ex-All Black and former England youth stars earns Italy call-up along with inspirational U20s captain
Bath back Matt Gallagher and Oyonnax flanker David Odiase have earned call-ups.
Italy head coach Gonzalo Quesada has named his 39-man training squad ahead of the upcoming internationals against Samoa, Japan and Tonga.
The squad includes eight uncapped players, one of whom is former England U20s back Matt Gallagher, who is set to join Benetton ahead of the 2024/25 season.
The versatile Bath star qualifies for Italy through his mother’s family and is also eligible for England, Ireland and New Zealand – the last of which through his father, John Gallagher, who won the 1987 Rugby World Cup.
Matt Gallagher and David Odiase called-up
He is joined by fellow uncapped players Muhamed Hasa, Giampietro Ribaldi, Giulio Marini and Giovanni Montemauri.
Quesada has also turned to French clubs for his other uncapped call-ups, including Castres hooker Loris Zarantonello and inspirational Azzurri U20 skipper and flanker David Odiase, who represents Oyonnax, and Clermont centre Francois Mey.
Odiase went viral last year with his inspirational speeches during his time as captain of the Italian U20s.
Italy to host All Blacks at the home of Italian football giants
Chills.
What a pre-match speech from Italian U20s captain David Odiase. #WorldRugbyU20spic.twitter.com/wZ6Vp6G0YD
— Tight Five Rugby (@TightFive_Rugby) June 29, 2023
Federico Mori, Lorenzo Pani and Dino Lamb have not been invited to the training camp due to injury.
“We have chosen a quality, strong and very balanced squad for this Summer Tour. We know the value of our opponents, especially when they play at home: they won’t be easy games,” Quesada said.
“This tour comes at the end of a very long season which still sees Benetton Rugby involved in the URC play-offs and the Top 14 with Ange Capuozzo and Paolo Garbisi protagonists with their clubs.
“The squad available will reflect the same principle as the Six Nations, where some young players will be included within a tested and experienced group – as in the recent past, for example, Ross Vintcent, Alessandro Izekor or Louis Lynagh – with the double objective of being viewed for the present and for the future.
“It will be a great opportunity for this group to live an important collective experience – the second of this new cycle – from a human and technical point of view and which fits into the growth path we have set for ourselves.”
Italy’s 39-man training squad
Forwards: Simone Ferrari, Danilo Fischetti, Muhamed Hasa*, Marco Riccioni, Mirco Spanish, Giosuè Zilocchi, Gianmarco Lucchesi, Giacomo Nicotera, Giampiero Ribaldi*, Loriz Zarantonello*, Niccolò Cannone, Riccardo Favretto, Edoardo Iachizzi, Federico Ruzza, Andrea Zambonin, Lorenzo Cannone, Alessandro Izekor, Michele Lamaro, Giulio Marini*, Sebastian Negri, David Odiase*, Ross Vintcent, Manuel Zuliani
Backs: Alessandro Garbisi, Martin Page-Relo, Stephen Varney, Paolo Garbisi, Leonardo Marin, Giovanni Montemauri*, Juan Ignacio Brex, Tommaso Menoncello, Francois Mey*, Marco Zanon, Ange Capuozzo, Matt Gallagher*, Simone Gesi, Monty Ioane, Louis Lynagh, Jacopo Trulla
Italy’s July international fixtures
Friday, July 5 – Samoa v Italy, Apia
Friday, July 12 – Tonga v Italy, Nuku’Alofa
Sunday, July 21 – Japan v Italy, Sapporo
READ MORE: TJ Perenara’s unequivocal response to All Blacks captaincy question
