Italy's Six Nations Preparations Disrupted by Significant Injury Setbacks
Italy's rugby union team has been dealt a substantial double injury blow ahead of the upcoming Six Nations Championship, with two key players ruled out of head coach Gonzalo Quesada's squad. Full-back Ange Capuozzo and back rower Sebastian Negri have both been omitted due to injury concerns, creating significant challenges for the Italian side as they prepare for the tournament.
Key Absences and Squad Announcement Details
The absence of Capuozzo and Negri represents a considerable setback for Italy's Six Nations ambitions. Capuozzo, the talented Toulouse full-back, suffered a fractured finger during his club's final match of 2025 and will consequently miss the team's training camp in Verona. Meanwhile, Negri has been sidelined since October and has not featured for Benetton in recent months.
These two prominent players join an extended list of injured Italian internationals that also includes fly half Tommaso Allan, Exeter Chiefs number eight Ross Vintcent, hooker Gianmarco Lucchesi, and back three specialist Jacopo Trulla. The cumulative effect of these absences presents Quesada with considerable selection headaches as he finalises his preparations.
New Faces and Returning Experience
Despite these injury concerns, Quesada has named a 33-player squad that includes several notable inclusions and recalls. Full-back Matt Gallagher, formerly of Saracens and Bath, has been recalled to the national setup, bringing valuable experience to the group that will assemble on Sunday to begin intensive preparations.
The squad features two uncapped players in flanker Samuele Locatelli and centre Damiano Mazza, both representing Zebre Parma. Their inclusion reflects Quesada's willingness to explore new options as Italy builds towards the next Rugby World Cup, now less than two years away.
Leadership and Strategic Perspective
Flanker Michele Lamaro will continue to captain the Italian side despite facing competition for his position from Manuel Zuliani. Lamaro's leadership will be crucial as Italy navigates the challenges presented by their injury-depleted squad.
Head coach Gonzalo Quesada adopted a characteristically positive perspective when discussing the squad selection, emphasising opportunity rather than absence. "At two years out from a World Cup, a little less now, having the chance to bring in some other players, new players, is also an opportunity," Quesada explained. "So that's how we look at it. We never focus too much on what we're missing. We look instead at everything we have and everything we can control."
Promising Talent Retained
Among the retained players is teenage wing Edoardo Todaro, who maintains his place in the squad following an impressive international debut in November. Todaro's inclusion comes on the back of strong performances for Northampton Saints, demonstrating Quesada's commitment to rewarding club form.
The full 33-player squad includes:
- Props: Simone Ferrari, Danilo Fischetti, Muhamed Hasa, Marco Riccioni, Mirco Spagnolo
- Hookers: Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, Pablo Dimcheff, Giacomo Nicotera
- Second Rows: Niccolò Cannone, Riccardo Favretto, Federico Ruzza, Andrea Zambonin
- Backrow: Lorenzo Cannone, Alessandro Izekor, Michele Lamaro, Samuele Locatelli, David Odiase, Manuel Zuliani
- Scrum Halves: Alessandro Fusco, Martin Page-Relo, Stephen Varney
- Fly Halves: Giacomo Da Re, Paolo Garbisi
- Centres: Juan Ignacio Brex, Leonardo Marin, Damiano Mazza, Tommaso Menoncello, Paolo Odogwu
- Back Three: Matt Gallagher, Monty Ioane, Louis Lynagh, Lorenzo Pani, Edoardo Todaro
Italy will begin their Six Nations campaign against Scotland in Rome on 7 February, with Quesada's squad facing the dual challenge of integrating new players while compensating for significant absentees through injury.
