Italy have welcomed back former captain Luca Bigi and experienced flanker Sebastian Negri in their squad for the last two rounds of the Guinness Six Nations.
Bigi, who last featured for the Azzurri in the Autumn Nations Series, returns with Italy set to be without both Gianmarco Lucchesi and Hame Faiva for their Round 4 clash with Scotland.
Lucchesi suffered a dislocated elbow early in the defeat to Ireland in Dublin, while replacement Faiva was then red-carded for a high tackle and is set to be suspended for the upcoming games.
As a result, Kieran Crowley has brought Bigi back into the squad, and he could come straight into the starting line-up, with Federico Zani and the uncapped Giacomo Nicotera the other options at hooker.
Elsewhere, Negri returns to the squad having missed the trip to Ireland as he went through the return to play protocols.
The Benetton flanker went off injured in the game against England in Round 2 but could now feature against Scotland.
Marco Fuser, the second row, has also come through the return to play protocols and returns to the squad, while Callum Braley and uncapped pair Giacomo Da Re and Ange Capuozzo are all fit again.
Simone Gesi, a standout performer on the wing for Italy’s Under-20s side in 2021, has been called up for the first time, having impressed for Emerging Italy in their win over Romania A last December.
Italy squad for matches against Scotland and Wales
Props
Pietro CECCARELLI (Brive, 19 caps) Danilo FISCHETTI (Zebre Parma, 18 caps) Ivan NEMER (Benetton Rugby, 5 caps) Tiziano PASQUALI (Benetton Rugby, 24 caps) Cherif TRAORE’ (Benetton Rugby, 13 caps) Giosuè ZILOCCHI (Zebre Parma, 16 caps)
Hookers
Luca BIGI (Zebre Parma, 40 caps) Giacomo NICOTERA (Benetton Rugby, uncapped) Federico ZANI (Benetton Rugby, 16 caps)
Second row
Niccolò CANNONE (Benetton Rugby, 18 caps) Marco FUSER (Newcastle Falcons, 36 caps) Federico RUZZA (Benetton Rugby, 28 caps) David SISI (Zebre Parma, 19 caps)
Back row
Toa HALAFIHI (Benetton Rugby, 3 caps) Michele LAMARO (Benetton Rugby, 13 caps) – captain Sebastian NEGRI (Benetton Rugby, 37 caps) Giovanni PETTINELLI (Benetton Rugby, 4 caps) Braam STEYN (Benetton Rugby, 48 caps) Manuel ZULIANI (Benetton Rugby, 2 caps)
Scrum-halves
Callum BRALEY (Benetton Rugby, 13 caps) Alessandro FUSCO (Fiamme Oro Rugby/Zebre Parma, 4 caps) Stephen VARNEY (Gloucester Rugby, 12 caps)
Fly-halves
Giacomo DA RE (Benetton Rugby/FEMI-CZ Rovigo, uncapped) Paolo GARBISI (Montpellier, 16 caps) Leonardo MARIN (Benetton Rugby, 3 caps)
Centres
Juan Ignacio BREX (Benetton Rugby, 11 caps) Marco ZANON (Benetton Rugby, 10 caps)
Back three
Pierre BRUNO (Zebre Parma, 2 caps) Ange CAPUOZZO (Grenoble, uncapped) Simone GESI (HBS Colorno, uncapped) Montanna IOANE (Benetton Rugby, 12 caps) Federico MORI (Bordeaux, 12 caps) Edoardo PADOVANI (Benetton Rugby, 33 caps)
