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Polledri and Parisse back in Italy squad for England

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Jake Polledri returns to the Italy squad for their final two matches of the Guinness Six Nations, while Sergio Parisse is also back in the 35-man squad named by Conor O’Shea.

Jake Polledri returns to the Italy squad for their final two matches of the Guinness Six Nations, while Sergio Parisse is also back in the 35-man squad named by Conor O’Shea.

The Azzurri travel to England in Round Four before hosting France in Round Five, with O’Shea naming a wider squad to prepare for the two matches.

A smaller group will then travel to take on England next Saturday, before a larger squad prepares to take on France.

O’Shea explained: “We have called up 35 players to have a wide range to choose from for the final two games of the Guinness Six Nations. For the game against England we will fly over with 26 players, while in Rome for the match against France we will have 31 players available.”

Polledri is arguably the most notable player to return to the squad, having missed the first three matches through injury, while Zebre hooker Oliviero Fabiani is also back fit.

Parisse, who missed the clash with Ireland in Round Three, is named and should return against England, while three players are in contention for a first cap.

Benetton tighthead Marco Riccioni, Gloucester scrum-half Callum Braley and Benetton centre Marco Zanon are the three uncapped players in the squad.

Italy squad for England:

Forwards: Simone Ferrari (Benetton Rugby), Andrea Lovotti (Zebre Rugby Club), Tiziano Pasquali (Benetton Rugby), Nicola Quaglio (Benetton Rugby), Marco Riccioni (Benetton Rugby), Cherif Traoré (Benetton Rugby), Luca Bigi (Benetton Rugby), Oliviero Fabiani (Zebre Rugby Club), 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 Mbandà (Zebre Rugby Club), Sebastian Negri (Benetton Rugby), Sergio Parisse (Stade Francais) (c), Jake Polledri (Gloucester Rugby), Abraham Jurgens Steyn (Benetton Rugby), Jimmy Tuivaiti (Zebre Rugby Club)

Backs: Callum Braley (Gloucester Rugby), 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), Giulio Bisegni (Zebre Rugby Club), Angelo Esposito (Benetton Rugby), Jayden Hayward (Benetton Rugby), Edoardo Padovani (Zebre Rugby Club), Luca Sperandio (Benetton Rugby)