Italrugby: 34 players summoned ahead of the Six Nations
Six Nations: 34 players summoned for Verona gathering
Kieran Crowley, technical commissioner of the Italian men’s national rugby team, has made official the list of players summoned for the Verona gathering — Jan. 22-27 — in preparation for the Guinness Six Nations 2023.
Thirty-four players have been summoned – including four rookies – who will reach the Verona capital for the first 2023 gathering. On the front line – along with returnees Riccioni and Zani – first ever call-up to the senior national team for Mirco Spagnolo, the only player on the roster from a Peroni TOP10 club.
Among the rookies – along with the Petrarca pylon – also present are Nocera, Rizzoli and Manfredi, who have already worked with the technical staff of the senior national team in the past.
Zambonin returns to the second line after the 2022 Summer Tour, while Jake Polledri on the third line, who had participated – for a brief part – in the Verona meet last October in preparation for the Autumn Nations Series, is back.
Among the three-quarterbacks, summonses for Fusco – absent due to injury in November – Da Re, who made his debut against Portugal in June, and Minozzi, who returns to the Azzurro squad after being part of the Autumn Nations Series roster in 2021 in the first three games under Crowley management.
“We are looking forward to taking the field in the Six Nations. We have worked hard over the past year to develop an identity as a team and gain respect and credibility. We have some new and some returning players, and this tournament will provide an opportunity for all of us to continue to build on that foundation we have created,” said Kieran Crowley.
Italy’s call-ups will be made official on Saturday, January 28, toward their first two Guinness Six Nations 2023 engagements scheduled for Sunday, February 5 at 4 p.m. against reigning champions France at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome and Sunday, February 12 at Twickenham at 3 p.m. local (4 p.m. Italian), respectively. The matches will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
This is the schedule for Italy at the Guinness Six Nations 2023:
Day 1 – 05.02.23 – Rome, Stadio Olimpico – 4 p.m.
Italy v France
Day II – 12.02.23 – London, Twickenham Stadium – 3 p.m. local (4 p.m. Italian)
England v Italy
Day III – 25.02.23 – Rome, Stadio Olimpico – 3:15 p.m.
Italy v Ireland
Day IV – 11.03.23 – Rome, Stadio Olimpico – 3:15 p.m.
Italy v Wales
Day V – 03/18/23 – Edinburgh, Murrayfield – 12:30 p.m. local (1:30 p.m. Italian)
Scotland v Italy
This is the list of summoned athletes:
Pylons
Peter CECCARELLI (Brive, 24 caps)
Simone FERRARI (Benetton Rugby, 40 caps)
Danilo FISCHETTI (London Irish, 25 caps)
Matteo NOCERA (Zebre Parma, rookie)
Marco RICCIONI (Saracens Rugby, 17 caps)
Luca RIZZOLI (Zebre Parma, rookie)
Mirco SPAGNOLO (Petrarca Rugby, rookie)
Federico ZANI (Benetton Rugby, 16 caps)
Heelers
Luca BIGI (Zebre Parma 42 caps)
Marco MANFREDI (Zebre Parma, rookie)
Giacomo NICOTERA (Benetton Rugby, 7 caps)
Second Lines
Niccolò CANNONE (Benetton Rugby, 24 caps)
Marco FUSER (Massy, 41 caps)
Federico RUZZA (Benetton Rugby, 36 caps)
Andrea ZAMBONIN (Zebre Parma, 2 caps)
Third Lines
Lorenzo CANNONE (Benetton Rugby, 3 caps)
Michele LAMARO (Benetton Rugby, 21 caps) – captain
Sebastian NEGRI (Benetton Rugby, 40 caps)
Giovanni PETTINELLI (Benetton Rugby, 8 caps)
Jake POLLEDRI (Gloucester Rugby, 19 caps)
Manuel ZULIANI (Benetton Rugby, 6 caps)
Scrumhalf
Alessandro FUSCO (Zebre Parma, 5 caps)
Alessandro GARBISI (Benetton Rugby, 3 caps)
Stephen Varney (Gloucester Rugby, 15 caps)
Opening Mids.
Tommaso ALLAN (Harlequins, 66 caps)
Giacomo DA RE (Benetton Rugby, 1 cap)
Centers
Juan Ignacio BREX (Benetton Rugby, 18 caps)
Enrico LUCCHIN (Zebre Parma, 1 cap)
Tommaso MENONCELLO (Benetton Rugby, 6 caps)
Luca MORISI (London Irish, 39 caps)
Wings/Extremes
Pierre BRUNO (Zebre Parma, 7 caps)
Ange CAPUOZZO (Stade Toulousain, 7 caps)
Matteo MINOZZI (Benetton Rugby, 24 caps)
Edoardo PADOVANI (Benetton Rugby, 40 caps)
Athletes not considered for injury: Paolo Garbisi (Montpellier), Toa Halafihi (Benetton Rugby), Gianmarco Lucchesi (Benetton Rugby), Leonardo Marin (Benetton Rugby), David Sisi (Zebre Parma)
Unavailable: Montanna Ioane (Melbourne Rebels)
