Louis Lynagh included in Italy squad

Gonzalo Quesada, Technical Commissioner of the Italian National Men's Rugby Team, has revealed the list of athletes called up for the meeting – scheduled to start from Sunday 18 February – in preparation for the match against France in third fixture of the Six Nations 2024 scheduled for Sunday 25 February at 4pm at the Groupama Stadium in Lille.

33 players have been called up and will meet at the CPO Giulio Onesti in Rome, the Azzurri's headquarters during the tournament.

Simone Ferrari returns to the front line after the injury that forced him to miss the first two matches of the Six Nations. Confirmations for Leonardo Marin in the attacking midfield and Matteo Canali in the second row, with the latter receiving his first call-up in the pre-Ireland gathering.

Francois Mey returns to the group, having taken part in the first 2024 meeting of the senior men's national team in Verona, while Harlequins winger Louis Lynagh, son of Benetton Rugby's legendary Australian opener, Michael, is selected for the first time: born in Treviso on 3 December 2000, the winger of the London Club has just been signed by Benetton starting from July 2024.

Negri, Lorenzo Cannone and Iachizzi will be missing as they continue their rehabilitation process at their franchise. Pietro Ceccarelli is also unavailable following an injury in Perpignan.

The Italy coaching staff, after a discussion with the player following the match in Dublin, decided by mutual agreement with him not to select Tommaso Allan for the third day of the Tournament. The Perpignan midfielder has asked to observe a period of rest from international activity after taking part seamlessly in the World Rugby windows of the entire 2023, including the summer preparation for the Rugby World Cup. 

“Tommaso is an excellent professional and, even more importantly, a person of unquestionable value. Men, even before athletes, are at the center of our evaluations and this is why, after having discussed with Tommaso and having fully understood his needs, we decided together with him for an additional period of rest" declared coach Gonzalo Quesada.

Italy officially confirm that Louis Lynagh has joined their Six Nations squad.

Props

Simone FERRARI (Benetton Rugby, 50 caps)

Danilo FISCHETTI (Zebre Parma, 37 caps)

Matteo NOCERA (Zebre Parma, debutant)

Luca RIZZOLI (Zebre Parma, debutant)

Mirco SPANISH (Benetton Rugby, 2 caps)

Giosuè ZILOCCHI (Benetton Rugby, 18 caps)

Hookers

Gianmarco LUCCHESI (Benetton Rugby, 19 caps)

Marco MANFREDI (Zebre Parma, 3 caps)

Giacomo NICOTERA (Benetton Rugby, 20 caps)

Locks

Matteo CANALI (Zebre Parma, debutant)

Niccolò CANNONE (Benetton Rugby, 38 caps)

Federico RUZZA (Benetton Rugby, 51 caps)

Andrea ZAMBONIN (Zebre Parma, 5 caps)

Loose Forwards

Riccardo FAVRETTO (Benetton Rugby, 1 cap)

Alessandro IZEKOR (Benetton Rugby, 2 caps)

Michele LAMARO (Benetton Rugby, 35 caps) 

Ross VINTCENT (Exeter, 1 cap)

Manuel ZULIANI (Benetton Rugby, 19 caps)

Scrumhalf

Alessandro GARBISI (Benetton Rugby, 8 caps)

Martin PAGE-RELO (Lyon, 5 caps)

Stephen VARNEY (Gloucester, 26 caps)

Flyhalf

Paolo GARBISI (Montpellier, 33 caps)

Leonardo MARIN (Benetton Rugby, 6 caps)

Centers

Juan Ignacio BREX (Benetton Rugby, 32 caps)

Tommaso MENONCELLO (Benetton Rugby, 14 caps)

Federico MORI (Bayonne, 15 caps)

Marco ZANON (Benetton Rugby, 16 caps)

Wingers/Fullbacks

Ange CAPUOZZO (Stade Toulousain, 17 caps)

Monty IOANE (Lyon 27 caps)

Simone GESI (Zebre Parma, 1 cap)

Louis LYNAGH (Harlequins, debutant)

Francois MEY (Clermont, debutant)

Lorenzo PANI (Zebre Parma, 7 caps)

Italy's results and 6 Nations Fixtures

02.03.24 – 3.15 pm

Italy v England 24-27 (1-4)

11.02.24 – 3pm local time (4pm ITA)

Ireland v Italy 36-0 (5-0)

25.02.24 – 4pm

France v Italy

9.03.24 – 3.15 pm

Italy v Scotland

03.16.24 – 2.15 pm local time (3.15 pm ITA)

Wales v Italy