Exiles duo named in Italy training squad

Danilo Fischetti and Luca Morisi have been included amongst a training squad of 35 players in Kieran Crowley’s first Italian national squad of the 2022/23 season.

The chosen players will converge in Verona from 23^rd to 28^th October in preparation for the Azzurri’s Autumn Nations Series challenges.

The Italian duo, alongside compatriot Giosúe Zilocchi, linked up with the Exiles this offseason from Italian United Rugby Championship sides Zebre Parma and Benetton Treviso respectively.

Fischetti has made a strong impression in his four appearances at loosehead so far, winning a round-high three turnovers on his debut against Worcester Warriors, whilst centre Morisi has featured across the Gallagher Premiership and Premiership Rugby Cup in his own four run-outs.

The 24-year-old has picked up seven of his 22 caps this calendar year as he featured in all five Guinness Six Nations matches, with Morisi played against Argentina and Uruguay last autumn.

Italy opens their November fixtures against Samoa at the Stadio Plebiscito, Padua (5^th November 1pm ko), then continuing against Australia at the Stadio Franchi (12^th November, 1pm ko) before rounding off their billing against world champions, South Africa in Genoa on the 19^th (Stadio Luigi Ferraris, 1pm ko).

Kieran Crowley’s 35-man Italy training squad

Props

Pietro CECCARELLI (CA Brive, 21 caps)

Simone FERRARI (Benetton Rugby, 37 caps)

Danilo FISCHETTI (London Irish, 22 caps)

Ivan NEMER (Benetton Rugby, 8 caps)

Ion NECULAI (Zebre Parma, 3 caps)

Hooker

Luca BIGI (Zebre Parma, 42 caps)

Gianmarco LUCCHESI (Benetton Rugby, 14 caps)

Giacomo NICOTERA (Benetton Rugby, 4 caps)

Second-row

Niccolò CANNONE (Benetton Rugby, 22 caps)

Marco FUSER (Massy, 41 caps)

Federico RUZZA (Benetton Rugby, 33 caps)

David SISI (Zebre Parma, 24 caps)

Gabriele VENDITTI (Zebre Parma, esordiente)

Back-row

Luca ANDREANI (Zebre Parma, esordiente)

Lorenzo CANNONE (Benetton Rugby, esordiente)

Toa HALAFIHI (Benetton Rugby, 7 caps)

Michele LAMARO (Benetton Rugby, 18 caps) – capitano

Sebastian NEGRI (Benetton Rugby, 38 caps)

Giovanni PETTINELLI (Benetton Rugby, 8 caps)

Manuel ZULIANI (Benetton Rugby, 4 caps)

Scrum-halves

Manfredi ALBANESE (Benetton Rugby, 2 caps)

Alessandro FUSCO (Zebre Parma, 8 caps)

Alessandro GARBISI (Benetton Rugby, 3 caps)

Stephen VARNEY (Gloucester Rugby, 12 caps)

Fly-halves

Tommaso ALLAN (Harlequins, 63 caps)

Paolo GARBISI (Montpellier, 20 caps)

Leonardo MARIN (Benetton Rugby, 6 caps)

Centres

Juan Ignacio BREX (Benetton Rugby, 15 caps)

Enrico LUCCHIN (Zebre Parma, esordiente)

Tommaso MENONCELLO (Benetton Rugby, 3 caps)

Luca MORISI (London Irish, 36 caps)

Outside backs

Pierre BRUNO (Zebre Parma, 4 caps)

Ange CAPUOZZO (Stade Toulousain, 5 caps)

Montanna IOANE (Melbourne Rebels, 14 caps)

Edoardo PADOVANI (Benetton Rugby, 38 caps)