2013 Six Nations
Italy name experienced 30-man squad
ESPN Staff
January 10, 2013
Paul Derbyshire is back in the Italy mix © PA Photos
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Tournaments/Tours: Six Nations
Teams: Italy

Italy coach Jacques Brunel has refrained from making mass changes to his team ahead of the 2013 Six Nations.

Brunel has confirmed his 30-man squad for the tournament and has kept the faith with the bulk of the players who turned out for the Azzurri in November. In the forwards, the likes of Martin Castrogiovanni, Sergio Parisse and Andrea Lo Cicero link up while Treviso's Paul Derbyshire is recalled after last featuring for Italy in the 2011 World Cup.

In the backs, Gonzalo Garcia is back in the international mix and, like Derbyshire, he last played for Italy in the World Cup. Despite Mirco Bergamasco looking set to miss the tournament through injury, the backline is packed with familiar faces with Wasps' Andrea Masi named alongside fellow mainstays Tommaso Benvenuti and fly-half Luciano Orquera.

Italy kick off their Six Nations campaign against France on February 3 and finish versus Italy on March 16.

Italy squad:

Forwards: Roberto Barbieri, Martin Castrogiovanni, Lorenzo Cittadini, Alberto De Marchi, Paul Derbyshire, Simone Favaro, Joshua Furno, Quintin Geldenhuys, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Davide Giazzon, Andrea Lo Cicero, Francesco Minto, Sergio Parisse, Antonio Pavanello, Michele Rizzo, Ratu Manoa Vosawai, Alessandro Zanni

Backs: Tommaso Benvenuti, Tobias Botes, Kristopher Burton, Paolo Buso, Gonzalo Canale, Gonzalo Garcia, Edoardo Gori, Tommaso Iannone, Andrea Masi, Luke McLean, Luciano Orquera, Alberto Sgarbi, Giovanbattista Venditti

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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