Perpignan fly-half or full-back Tommaso Allan is back in the Italian team for the autumn tour, while scrum-half Stephen Varney, who could join shortly, is absent.
With AFP
Allan had decided to put his international career on hold in the middle of the Six Nations Tournament last February, because “the year (was) very tiring, physically and mentally”, he explained.
The international with 80 caps has not worn the Italian jersey since his team’s rout against Ireland (36-0) in Dublin during the second day of the 2024 Tournament, a match for which he was a substitute.
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This season, he played three Top 14 matches with USAP and scored sixteen points.
Quesada summoned a Serie A player
Among the 34 players selected by Argentinian Gonzalo Quesada, there are two newcomers: Parma hooker Tommaso Di Bartolomeo and center Giulio Bertaccini.
Rarely, the latter does not play in one of the two Italian federal franchises or abroad, but in Serie A with Valorugby Emilia.
On the other hand, Bayonne winger or center Federico Mori and Gloucester scrum half Stephen Varney, who could change clubs and join Vannes as announced RugbyPass this Thursday, are absent.
Italy, 8th in the World Rugby rankings, will face Argentina (6th) on November 9 in Udine (north-east), Georgia (12th) on November 17 in Genoa (north-west), before challenging New -Zealand (3rd) on November 23 at the Allianz Stadium, the Juventus Turin stadium.
Italy
New Zealand
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“These November test matches are another important meeting to consolidate our progress,” hoped Quesada, who will complete his first year at the head of the Nazionale.
With the Argentinian, Italy achieved the best Six Nations Tournament in its history (two victories, one draw and two defeats).
The 34 Italian players selected for the autumn tour
Rears
Tommaso Allan (Perpignan), Giulio Bertaccini (Valorugby Emilia), Juan Ignacio Brex (Benetton Rugby), Ange Capuozzo (Stade Toulousain), Alessandro Fusco (Parme), Matt Gallagher (Benetton Rugby), Alessandro Garbisi (Benetton Rugby), Paolo Garbisi (Toulon), Monty Ioane (LOU), Louis Lynagh (Benetton Rugby), Leonardo Marin (Benetton Rugby), Tommaso Menoncello (Benetton Rugby), Martin Page-Relo (LOU), Jacopo Trulla (Parme), Marco Zanon (Benetton Rugby ).
