Campagnaro named in Italy squad

By Mark Stevens
18/1/17

Fresh from his try-scoring double against Ulster in the European Champions Cup, Michele Campagnaro has today be given further reason to celebrate after he was named in Italy's squad for the upcoming RBS Six Nations.

The 23-year-old back has been included in a 32-man squad named by coach Conor O'Shea.

Italy will kick-off their campaign on Sunday, February 5 when they tackle Wales in Rome, before then entertaining Ireland six days later again in the capital.

England follow next at Twickenham on February 25, before Italy host France on March 11 and then travel to Scotland on March 18.

Buoyed by a successful Autumn series, which included defeating South Africa, O'Shea has stuck with a largely uncyhanged squad.

"The group that we've seen in November has worked very well. For us it is important to give continuity to our work and increase the experience of the squad," said O'Shea.

"I'm looking forward to getting back to working with the guys and I expect a squad that will work hard to play every match until the last minute."

It will be the 13th Six Nations for Argentina-born flanker Sergio Parisse, Italy's most capped player with 121 appearances.
Forwards: Pietro Ceccarelli (Zebre Rugby), Dario Chistolini (Zebre Rugby), Lorenzo Cittadini (Aviron Bayonnais), Andrea Lovotti (Zebre Rugby), Sami Panico (Patarò Calvisano), Tommaso D'Apice (Zebre Rugby), Ornel Gega (Benetton Treviso), Leonardo Ghiraldini (Stade Toulousain), George Fabio Biagi (Zebre Rugby), Joshua Furno (Zebre Rugby), Marco Fuser (Benetton Treviso), Federico Ruzza (Zebre Rugby), Andries Van Schalkwyk (Zebre Rugby), Marco Barbini (Benetton Treviso), Simone Favaro (Glasgow Warriors), Maxime Mata Mbanda (Zebre Rugby), Francesco Minto (Benetton Treviso), Sergio Parisse (Stade Francais), Abraham Jurgens Steyn (Benetton Treviso).

Backs: Giorgio Bronzini (Benetton Treviso), Edoardo Gori (Benetton Treviso), Marcello Violi (Zebre Rugby), Tommaso Allan (Benetton Treviso), Carlo Canna (Zebre Rugby), Tommaso Benvenuti (Benetton Treviso), Tommaso Boni (Zebre Rugby), Michele Campagnaro (Exeter Chiefs), Luke McLean (Benetton Treviso, 84 caps), Giulio Bisegni (Zebre Rugby), Angelo Esposito (Benetton Treviso), Giovambattista Venditti (Zebre Rugby), Edoardo Padovani (Zebre Rugby).