Italy boost squad for Bok challenge

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Italy head coach Gonzalo Quesada has called up two players for their upcoming two-Test series against South Africa.

The Italian side has officially begun the build-up to the first match against the Springboks on Saturday, July 5, at Loftus Versfeld.

It marks the second match in Africa for the Azzurri after dispatching Namibia by 73-6 last weekend.

The side landed in Johannesburg, which is the venue for the first part of the Azzurri camp on the afternoon of Saturday, June 28.

The team led by coach Gonzalo Quesada will train on Monday, June 30, Tuesday, July 1 and Thursday, July 3.

The day on which the Azzurri will travel to Pretoria and the team that will face the Springboks in Pretoria will be announced later this week.

Given the double challenge against the reigning World Champions, the Italian Rugby technical staff has called up Pietro Ceccarelli – a prop with 34 caps.

There is also a potential debutant in centre Damiano Mazza from Zebre, who is receiving his first call-up to the senior national team.

Both players have reached Italy’s headquarters and will train regularly with their teammates.

Forwards: Pietro Ceccarelli (Perpignan), Simone Ferrari (Benetton), Danilo Fischetti (Zebre), Muhamed Hasa(Zebre), Mirco Spagnolo (Benetton), Tommaso Di Bartolomeo (Zebre), Pablo Dimcheff (Colomiers), Giacomo Nicotera (Stade Français), Matteo Canali (Zebre), Niccolò Cannone (Benetton), Riccardo Favretto (Benetton), Andrea Zambonin (Zebre), Lorenzo Cannone (Benetton), Alessandro Izekor (Benetton), Sebastian Negri (Benetton), David Odiase (Oyonnax), Ross Vintcent (Exeter Chiefs), Manuel Zuliani (Benetton).

Backs: Alessandro Fusco (Zebre), Alessandro Garbisi (Benetton), Stephen Varney (Vannes), Giacomo Da Re (Zebre), Giovanni Montemauri (Zebre), Giulio Bertaccini (Valorugby Emilia), Damiano Mazza (Zebre), Tommaso Menoncello (Benetton), Marco Zanon (Benetton), Mirko Belloni (Rovigo Delta), Simone Gesi (Zebre), Louis Lynach (Benetton), Paolo Odogwu (Benetton), Jacopo Trulla (Zebre).