Here is the latest Italy Six Nations squad update ahead of the side’s opening fixture away to Scotland on Saturday.
Italy’s first match of the 2025 Guinness Six Nations is a tough trip north to face Scotland at Murrayfield.
The game kicks off at 2:15pm GMT in Edinburgh and follows Friday night’s tournament curtain-raiser as France host Wales.
Head coach Gonzalo Quesada has named his squad, with the team linking up in Rome from Sunday 19 January.
Giosuè Zilocchi is back after injury, having missed the Autumn series. Uncapped prop Luca Rizzoli is called in for the suspended Mirco Spagnolo.
The squad is much the same as the one used in the Autumn, though Andrea Zambonin and Louis Lynagh both miss out through injury.
Scrum-half Stephen Varney returns to the squad after joining Vannes from Gloucester, along with Zebre winger Simone Gesi.
Veteran fly-half Tommaso Allan is also back, having missed recent tests against New Zealand and Georgia.
Last year’s player of the tournament, Tommaso Menoncello will be hoping for another excellent campaign.
Italy’s other key players include electric Toulouse fullback Ange Capuozzo and ferocious Benetton back rowers Michele Lamaro and Sebastian Negri.
Along with the main squad, Quesada has invited four players to train with the side to gain experience.
Muhamed Hasa, Matteo Canali, Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, and Giulio Bertaccini have all joined up with the squad.
Only Bertaccini has earned a senior cap, having made his debut against Georgia in November.
Italy Six Nations Squad
Forwards
Simone Ferrari (Benetton Rugby, 59 caps)
Danilo Fischetti (Zebre Parma, 47 caps)
Marco Riccioni (Saracens, 30 caps)
Luca Rizzoli (Zebre Parma, uncapped)*
Giosuè Zilocchi (Benetton Rugby, 22 caps)
Gianmarco Lucchesi (Toulon, 28 caps)
Giacomo Nicotera (Stade Français, 28 caps)
Niccolò Cannone (Benetton Rugby, 47 caps)
Riccardo Favretto (Benetton Rugby, 4 caps)
Dino Lamb (Harlequins, 9 caps)
Federico Ruzza (Benetton Rugby, 59 caps)
Lorenzo Cannone (Benetton Rugby, 23 caps)
Alessandro Izekor (Benetton Rugby, 6 caps)
Michele Lamaro (Benetton Rugby, 43 caps)
Sebastian Negri (Benetton Rugby, 58 caps)
Ross Vintcent (Exeter Chiefs, 9 caps)
Manuel Zuliani (Benetton Rugby, 27 caps)
Backs
Alessandro Garbisi (Benetton Rugby, 13 caps)
Martin Page-Relo (Lyon, 13 caps)
Stephen Varney (Vannes, 30 caps)
Tommaso Allan (Perpignan, 81 caps)
Paolo Garbisi (Toulon, 42 caps)
Leonardo Marin (Benetton Rugby, 13 caps)
Juan Ignacio Brex (Benetton Rugby, 41 caps)
Tommaso Menoncello (Benetton Rugby, 23 caps)
Ange Capuozzo (Stade Toulousain, 23 caps)
Matt Gallagher (Benetton Rugby, 2 caps)
Simone Gesi (Zebre Parma, 1 cap)
Monty Ioane (Lyon, 35 caps)
Jacopo Trulla (Zebre Parma, 12 caps)
Development Players
Giulio Bertaccini (Valorugby Emilia, 1 cap)
Matteo Canali (Zebre Parma, uncapped)*
Tommaso Di Bartolomeo (Zebre Parma, uncapped)*
Muhamed Hasa (Zebre Parma, uncapped)*
Unavailable (Injury)
Louis Lynagh (Benetton Rugby, 5 caps)
Paolo Odogwu (Benetton Rugby, 6 caps)
Andrea Zambonin (Zebre Parma, 9 caps)
*Denotes uncapped players
Italy have improved significantly in the last couple of seasons, but will still be up against it on Saturday.
According the the best UK rugby betting sites, they are 10/1 underdogs. Scotland, meanwhile are comfortable favourites at 1/12.
Scotland Vs Italy kicks off at 2:25pm GMT and is available to watch live in the UK on BBC1.
Rounding out the opening weekend’s fixtures, Ireland host England at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin at 4:45pm GMT.
