But head coach Gonzalo Quesada has some big names missing for opener against Scotland
Head coach Gonzalo Quesada has named his side for the Italy Six Nations 2026 squad’s opening match against Scotland, but there are some big names missing from the 23. Injuries mean he’s lost the talents of Tommaso Allan, Ange Capuozzo, Gianmarco Lucchesi, Sebastian Negri, Jacopo Trulla and Ross Vintcent. Will the Azzurri have enough to get their championship off to a winning start in Rome?
Leonardo Marin gets the nod at full-back, with Louis Lynagh and Monty Ioane completing the back three. One of the finest centre partnerships in world rugby is reunited as Juan Ignacio Brex (who wins his 50th cap) lines up alongside Tommaso Menoncello. The half-backs are Alessandro Fusco and another 50-cap man, Paolo Garbisi.
Up front, Danilo Fischetti and Simone Ferrari are the props, Giacomo Nicotera is the hooker, and Niccolò Cannone and Andrea Zambonin pack down at lock. The back row features Manuel Zuliani, Lorenzo Cannone and captain Michele Lamaro, the third member of the 23 reaching a half century of caps on Saturday afternoon.
There’s a 5-3 split on the bench, mirroring Scotland coach Gregor Townsend’s selection. The substitute forwards are Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, Mirco Spagnolo, Muhamed Hasa, Federico Ruzza and Riccardo Favretto. Alessandro Garbisi, Giacomo Da Re and Lorenzo Pani are the replacement backs.
Italy v Scotland kicks off at 2.10pm GMT on Saturday 7 February, with live coverage on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK, and Virgin Media One and Virgin Media Play in Ireland.
Italy Six Nations team v Scotland – round 1
15. Leonardo Marin
14. Louis Lynagh
13. Juan Ignacio Brex
12. Tommaso Menoncello
11. Monty Ioane
10. Paolo Garbisi
9. Alessandro Fusco
1. Danilo Fischetti
2. Giacomo Nicotera
3. Simone Ferrari
4. Niccolò Cannone
5. Andrea Zambonin
6. Michele Lamaro
7. Manuel Zuliani
8. Lorenzo Cannone
Replacements:
16. Tommaso Di Bartolomeo
17. Mirco Spagnolo
18. Muhamed Hasa
19. Federico Ruzza
20. Riccardo Favretto
21. Alessandro Garbisi
22. Giacomo Da Re
23. Lorenzo Pani
Italy Six Nations squad: Quesada’s 33-man squad
Forwards (18): Tommaso Di Bartolomeo (Zebre Parma), Lorenzo Cannone (Benetton Rugby), Niccolò Cannone (Benetton Rugby), Pablo Dimcheff (Colomiers Rugby), Riccardo Favretto (Benetton Rugby), Simone Ferrari (Benetton Rugby), Danilo Fischetti (Northampton Saints), Muhamed Hasa (Zebre Parma), Alessandro Izekor (Benetton Rugby), Michele Lamaro (Benetton Rugby), Samuele Locatelli (Zebre Parma), Giacomo Nicotera (Stade Français), David Odiase (Zebre Parma), Marco Riccioni (Saracens), Federico Ruzza (Benetton Rugby), Mirco Spagnolo (Benetton Rugby), Andrea Zambonin (Exeter Chiefs), Manuel Zuliani (Benetton Rugby)
Backs (15): Juan Ignacio Brex (Benetton Rugby), Giacomo Da Re (Zebre Parma), Alessandro Fusco (Zebre Parma), Matt Gallagher (Benetton Rugby), Paolo Garbisi (Toulon), Monty Ioane (Lyon), Louis Lynagh (Benetton Rugby), Leonardo Marin (Benetton Rugby), Damiano Mazza (Zebre Parma), Tommaso Menoncello (Benetton Rugby), Paolo Odogwu (Benetton Rugby), Martin Page-Relo (Lyon), Lorenzo Pani (Zebre Parma), Edoardo Todaro (Northampton Saints), Stephen Varney (Exeter Chiefs)
Italy Six Nations squad: 2026 fixtures at a glance
- Sat 6 February, Italy v Scotland (kick-off 2.10pm GMT, Stadio Olimpico, Rome) Live on the BBC in the UK
- Sat 14 February, Ireland v Italy (kick-off 2.10pm GMT, Aviva Stadium, Dublin) Live on ITV in the UK
- Sun 22 February, France v Italy (kick-off 3.10pm GMT, Stade Pierre Mauroy, Lille) Live on ITV in the UK
- Sat 7 March, Italy v England (kick-off 4.40pm GMT, Stadio Olimpico, Rome) Live on ITV in the UK
- Sat 14 March, Wales v Italy (kick-off 4.40pm GMT, Principality Stadium, Cardiff) Live on the BBC in the UK
- Read more: Men’s Six Nations fixtures 2026
Italy Six Nations squad: Line-ups from every match in 2025
Round 1: v Scotland (Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh)
Result: Scotland 31-19 Italy
Starting XV:
15. Tommaso Allan
14. Ange Capuozzo
13. Juan Ignacio Brex
12. Tommaso Menoncello
11. Monty Ioane
10. Paolo Garbisi
9. Martin Page-Relo
1. Danilo Fischetti
2. Giacomo Nicotera
3. Simone Ferrari
4. Dino Lamb
5. Federico Ruzza
6. Sebastian Negri
7. Michele Lamaro (captain)
8. Lorenzo Cannone
Replacements:
16. Gianmarco Lucchesi
17. Luca Rizzoli
18. Marco Riccioni
19. Niccolò Cannone
20. Manuel Zuliani
21. Ross Vintcent
22. Alessandro Garbisi
23. Simone Gesi
Round 2: v Wales (Stadio Olimpico, Rome)
Result: Italy 22-15 Wales
Starting XV:
15. Tommaso Allan
14. Ange Capuozzo
13. Juan Ignacio Brex
12. Tommaso Menoncello
11. Monty Ioane
10. Paolo Garbisi
9. Martin Page-Relo
1. Danilo Fischetti
2. Giacomo Nicotera
3. Simone Ferrari
4. Niccolò Cannone
5. Federico Ruzza
6. Sebastian Negri
7. Michele Lamaro (captain)
8. Lorenzo Cannone
Replacements:
16. Gianmarco Lucchesi
17. Luca Rizzoli
18. Marco Riccioni
19. Dino Lamb
20. Manuel Zuliani
21. Ross Vintcent
22. Alessandro Garbisi
23. Jacopo Trulla
Round 3: v France (Stadio Olimpico, Rome)
Result: Italy 24-73 France
Starting XV:
15. Tommaso Allan
14. Ange Capuozzo
13. Juan Ignacio Brex
12. Tommaso Menoncello
11. Simone Gesi
10. Paolo Garbisi
9. Martin Page-Relo
1. Danilo Fischetti
2. Gianmarco Lucchesi
3. Simone Ferrari
4. Niccolò Cannone
5. Federico Ruzza
6. Sebastian Negri
7. Michele Lamaro (captain)
8. Lorenzo Cannone
Replacements:
16. Giacomo Nicotera
17. Mirco Spagnolo
18. Giosuè Zilocchi
19. Riccardo Favretto
20. Manuel Zuliani
21. Ross Vintcent
22. Alessandro Garbisi
23. Jacopo Trulla
Round 4: v England (Allianz Stadium, Twickenham)
Result: England 47-24 Italy
Starting XV:
15. Ange Capuozzo
14. Monty Ioane
13. Juan Ignacio Brex
12. Tommaso Menoncello
11. Matt Gallagher
10. Paolo Garbisi
9. Stephen Varney
1. Danilo Fischetti
2. Giacomo Nicotera
3. Marco Riccioni
4. Niccolò Cannone
5. Federico Ruzza
6. Sebastian Negri
7. Michele Lamaro (captain)
8. Ross Vintcent
Replacements:
16. Gianmarco Lucchesi
17. Mirco Spagnolo
18. Simone Ferrari
19. Riccardo Favretto
20. Manuel Zuliani
21. Lorenzo Cannone
22. Martin Page-Relo
23. Tomasso Allan
Round 5: v Ireland (Stadio Olimpico, Rome)
Result: Italy 17-22 Ireland
Starting XV:
15. Tomasso Allan
14. Ange Capuozzo
13. Juan Ignacio Brex (captain)
12. Tommaso Menoncello
11. Monty Ioane
10. Paolo Garbisi
9. Martin Page-Relo
1. Danilo Fischetti
2. Gianmarco Lucchesi
3. Simone Ferrari
4. Dino Lamb
5. Federico Ruzza
6. Sebastian Negri
7. Manuel Zuliani
8. Lorenzo Cannone
Replacements:
16. Giacomo Nicotera
17. Mirco Spagnolo
18. Giosuè Zilocchi
19. Niccolò Cannone
20. Michele Lamaro
21. Ross Vintcent
22. Stephen Varney
23. Leonardo Marin
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