Italy coach Jacques Brunel on Thursday named four uncapped players in his preliminary 30-man squad for the Six Nations.
The core of the squad is 24 players Brunel used in the November tests, when the Azzurri ended a long winless run by beating Samoa 24-13 and served up credible performances in defeats to Argentina and South Africa.
Two other familiar faces, flanker Mauro Bergamasco and winger Giovambattista Venditti, return after injuries.
But Frenchman Brunel sprang a surprise by giving three players their first call-up as he seeks to try out possible contenders for 2015 World Cup places.
They are centre Giulio Bisegni and wing Michele Visentin, both players for Italian Celtic League franchise Zebre, and Cammi Calvisano scrumhalf Marcello Violi, the only representative from the Italian top flight - the Campionato d'Eccellenza. They squad also features Benetton utily back Simone Ragusi, who was called up for the autumn tests but failed to make his debut. "The tournament is the last real opportunity to test some young people who are showing that they have interesting qualities," Brunel said.
"It's an opportunity for them to show their value in the year of the World Cup". The squad, led by inspiration captain and number eight Sergio Parisse, will start their Six Nations campaign against Ireland in Rome on February 7. Squad: Props: Matias AGUERO (Zebre), Martin CASTROGIOVANNI (Toulon RC); Dario CHISTOLINI (Zebre). Hookers: Leonardo GHIRALDINI (Leicester Tigers), Andrea MANICI (Zebre). Locks: George Fabio BIAGI (Zebre), Marco BORTOLAMI (Zebre), Joshua FURNO (Newcastle Falcons), Quintin GELDENHUYS (Zebre). Loose forwards: Robert Julian BARBIERI (Leicester Tigers), Mauro BERGAMASCO (Zebre), Simone FAVARO (Benetton), Francesco MINTO (Benetton), Sergio PARISSE (Stade Francais), Alessandro ZANNI (Benetton). Scrumhalfs: Edoardo GORI (Benetton), Guglielmo PALAZZANI (Zebre), Marcello VIOLI (Cammi Calvisano). Flyhalfs: Tommaso ALLAN (USAP Perpignan), Kelly HAIMONA (Zebre).
Centres/wings/fullbacks: Giulio BISEGNI (Zebre), Michele CAMPAGNARO (Benetton), Andrea MASI (London Wasps), Luke MCLEAN (Sale Sharks), Luca MORISI (Benetton), Simone RAGUSI (Benetton), Leonardo SARTO (Zebre), Giovambattista VENDITTI (Zebre), Michele VISENTIN (Zebre).
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