Italy coach Conor O’Shea has named an updated 31-man squad ahead of their Guinness Six Nations opener against Scotland.
Lock Dean Budd makes his return to the set-up after missing out on the recent training camp in Rome due to personal reasons and replaces Benetton teammate Marco Fuser in the side.
O’Shea has released a host of his stars for this weekend’s Guinness PRO14 clash between Benetton and Ulster, including forwards Luca Sperandio and Marco Zanon.
Fly-half Ian McKinley and lock Federico Ruzza also both start for the Treviso outfit in Ireland.
Meanwhile, props Cherif Traore and Simone Ferrari are named amongst the replacements with flanker Marco Barbini.
The Azzurri will reconvene again in Rome on Sunday as the squad prepare to take on Scotland at BT Murrayfield next Saturday.
Italy squad:
Forwards: Simone Ferrari (Benetton Rugby), Andrea Lovotti (Zebre Rugby Club), Tiziano Pasquali (Benetton Rugby), Cherif Traoré (Benetton Rugby), Giosuè Zilocchi (Zebre Rugby Club), Luca Bigi (Benetton Rugby), Leonardo Ghiraldini (Stade Toulousain), Dean Budd (Benetton Rugby), Federico Ruzza (Benetton Rugby), David Sisi (Zebre Rugby Club), Alessandro Zanni (Benetton Rugby), Marco Barbini (Benetton Rugby), Maxime Mbanda (Zebre Rugby Club), Sebastian Negri (Benetton Rugby), Sergio Parisse (Stade Français), Abraham Steyn (Benetton Rugby), Jimmy Tuivaiti (Zebre Rugby Club)
Backs: Guglielmo Palazzani (Zebre Rugby Club), Tito Tebaldi (Benetton Rugby), Tommaso Allan (Benetton Rugby), Carlo Canna (Zebre Rugby Club), Ian McKinley (Benetton Rugby), Michele Campagnaro (Wasps), Tommaso Castello (Zebre Rugby Club), Luca Morisi (Benetton Rugby), Marco Zanon (Benetton Rugby), Tommaso Benvenuti (Benetton Rugby), Angelo Esposito (Benetton Rugby), Jayden Hayward (Benetton Rugby), Edoardo Padovani (Zebre Rugby Club), Luca Sperandio (Benetton Rugby)
