Wing Simone Gesi will make his debut in the Italy Six Nations squad to face Scotland.

Zebre speedster Gesi, 21, has lit up the U20 Six Nations in recent years and comes in for Edoardo Padovani, who drops out of the 23-man squad entirely.

There is also no room for scrum-half Stephen Varney – who had started every game so far this championship – with Alessandro Fusco wearing No 9 and Alessandro Garbisi, younger brother of fly-half Paolo, coming onto the bench.

Tommy Allan retains his place at full-back while there is a first Italy start for Edoardo Iachizzi in the second row in place of Niccolo Cannone and Saracens prop Marco Riccioni returns to the starting line-up.

Read more: Italy Six Nations fixtures

Hooker Marco Manfredi is in line to win his first cap off the bench after replacing former Azzurri skipper Luca Bigi in the No 16 jersey. If he comes onto the field, Manfredi will become the 23rd player to debut under coach Kieran Crowley.

Italy Six Nations squad to play Scotland

Tommy Allan, Pierre Bruno, Juan Ignacio Brex, Tommaso Menoncello, Simone Gesi; Paolo Garbisi, Alessandro Fusco; Danilo Fischetti, Giacomo Nicotera, Marco Ricconi, Edoardo Iachizzi, Federico Ruzza, Sebastian Negri, Michele Lamaro (captain), Lorenzo Cannone.

Replacements: Marco Manfredi, Federico Zani, Marco Riccioni, Niccolò Cannone, Giovanni Pettinelli, Manuel Zuliani, Alessandro Garbisi, Luca Morisi

Italy Six Nations squad to play Wales

Tommy Allan, Edoardo Padovani, Juan Ignacio Brex, Tommaso Menoncello, Pierre Bruno; Paolo Garbisi, Stephen Varney; Danilo Fischetti, Giacomo Nicotera, Simone Ferrari, Niccolò Cannone, Federico Ruzza, Sebastian Negri, Michele Lamaro, Lorenzo Cannone.

Replacements: Luca Bigi, Federico Zani, Marco Riccioni, Edoardo Iachizzi, Giovanni Pettinelli, Manuel Zuliani, Alessandro Fusco, Luca Morisi

Italy Six Nations squad to play Ireland

Ange Capuozzo, Edoardo Padovani, Juan Ignacio Brex, Tommaso Menoncello, Pierre Bruno; Paolo Garbisi, Stephen Varney; Danilo Fischetti, Giacomo Nicotera, Simone Ferrari, Niccolò Cannone, Federico Ruzza, Sebastian Negri, Michele Lamaro, Lorenzo Cannone.

Replacements: Luca Bigi, Federico Zani, Marco Riccioni, Edoardo Iachizzi, Giovanni Pettinelli, Alessandro Fusco, Luca Morisi, Tommaso Allan

Italy Six Nations squad to play England

Ange Capuozzo, Edoardo Padovani, Juan Ignacio Brex, Luca Morisi, Tommaso Menoncello; Tommaso Allan, Stephen Varney; Danilo Fischetti, Giacomo Nicotera, Marco Riccioni, Niccolò Cannone, Federico Ruzza, Sebastian Negri, Michele Lamaro, Lorenzo Cannone.

Replacements: Luca Bigi, Federico Zani, Simone Ferrari, Edoardo Iachizzi, Jake Polledri, Manuel Zuliani, Alessandro Fusco, Pierre Bruno

Italy Six Nations squad to play France

Ange Capuozzo; Pierre Bruno, Juan Ignacio Brex, Luca Morisi, Tommaso Menoncello;  Tommaso Allan, Stephen Varney; Danilo Fischetti, Giacomo Nicotera, Simone Ferrari, Niccolò Cannone, Federico Ruzza, Sebastian Negri, Michele Lamaro (captain), Lorenzo Cannone

Replacements: Luca Bigi, Federico Zani, Pietro Ceccarelli, Edoardo Iachizzi, Giovanni Pettinelli, Manuel Zuliani, Alessandro Fusco, Edoardo Padovani

Italy Six Nations wider squad

Paolo Garbisi has been added to the Italy Six Nations squad for the opening two rounds of the Guinness Six Nations and could feature earlier than expected on his return from injury.

The Montpellier fly-half was not included in the initial training squad due to a knee injury and was only expected to play in the back half of the championship, as previously confirmed by coach Kieran Crowley.

Read more: Italy Six Nations fixtures

However, his inclusion ahead of time suggests he could return to action away at Twickenham against England on 12 February.

The rest of the squad have been training in Verona ahead of their clash with the reigning Grand Slam champions at the Stadio Olimpico this weekend.

Italy Six Nations Squad 2023

This is the squad selected for the first two rounds of the Six Nations.

Italy Six Nations Fixtures 2023

Round 1

Sun 5 February, Italy 24-29 France (3pm) Watch slippery Ange Capuozzo try

Round 2

Sun 12 February, England 31-14 Italy (3pm) Jack Willis comeback to remember against Italy

Round 3

Sat 25 February, Italy 20-34 Ireland (2.15pm) Who is Lorenzo Cannone?

Round 4

Sat 11 March, Italy 17-29 Wales (2.15pm) Bounce of the ball undoes Italy

Round 5

Sat 18 March, Scotland v Italy (12.30pm)

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