Italy in contact with three Premiership players over eligibility

Italy head coach Kieran Crowley has confirmed that he is in talks with two uncapped players on England's radar as well another ex-England star over their availability. 

Crowley has also confirmed that Italy is looking to take advantage of the recent changes in the World Rugby eligibility laws that will allow Alex Lozowski to represent Azzuri.

In November last year, World Rugby approved an amendment to the sport’s national team representation laws. The change will now permit an international player to transfer from one country to another.

From the start of this year, players can transfer from one country to another if they meet the criteria below:

• The player must stand-down from international rugby for 36 months.
• The player must either be born in the country to which they wish to transfer or have a parent or grandparent born in that country.
• Under the revised Regulation 8 criteria, a player may only change union once and each case will be subject to approval by the World Rugby Regulations Committee to preserve integrity.

During the 2022 Six Nations launch, Kieran Crowley said that he has also spoken directly with uncapped Harlequins winger Louis Lynagh and Wasps wing Paolo Odogwu as well as Saracens back Alex Lozowski - who has been capped by England.

Lozowski last earned a test cap for England in November 2018 and could switch countries as he has completed the required stand-down period. Meanwhile, both Lynagh and Odogwu are yet to be capped by England but have been involved in England camps.

Odogwu qualifies for England through his father who is of Italian descent while Lynagh qualifies for Italy via his mother but is also eligible for Australia and England. Meanwhile, Lozowski has an Italian grandmother.

"Paolo has been contacted, and the other two I have spoken to personally," Crowley said

"We have discussed it and they've made decisions at the moment that I respect 100 per cent and I support them 100 per cent. I will keep in contact with them.

"If they declared themselves available for Italy, certainly we would be looking at them. They are all quality players.

"I am open to anyone being available. We will keep the lines of communication open, not only with those three, but there are a number of others as well. They are playing for clubs in England and if they suddenly make themselves available for Italy, how does that affect their contractual status, which is their livelihood?"