Two ex-England age-grade stars named in Italy World Cup training squad

Former England squad member Paolo Odogwu and Harlequins second-row forward Dino Lamb have been named in Italy’s World Cup training group.

Odogwu, 26, who joined Stade Francais from Wasps last year, was capped by England at Under-18 and Under-20 level and included in Eddie Jones’ 2021 Six Nations squad.

But the Coventry-born wing, who is of Nigerian and Italian descent, never played for England at senior level and had expressed his desire to represent the Azzurri.

The 25-year-old Lamb, who helped the England Under-20s reach the final of the 2017 U20 World Championships, also has Italian heritage and will join a 46-strong training squad in Trentino next month.

Italy head coach Kieran Crowley said: “We will have a very long and interesting period in Pergine Valsugana in preparation for one of the most important moments in the life of a sportsman – the World Cup.”

Forwards Epalahame Faiva, Filippo Alongi, Ivan Nemer, Matteo Nocera and Toa Halafihi, as well as wings Federico Mori and Montanna Ioane, feature after missing the 2023 Guinness Six Nations Championship.

Gloucester back-rower Jake Polledri, who played at the 2019 World Cup in Japan, misses out through injury.

Italy open their World Cup campaign against Namibia in St Etienne on September 9 before playing pool matches against hosts France, New Zealand and Uruguay.

PROP
Filippo Alongi (Benetton Rugby, 1 Cap)
Paolo Buonfiglio (Zebre Parma, Esordiente)
Pietro Ceccarelli (Brive, 26 Caps)
Simone Ferrari (Benetton Rugby, 44 Caps)
Danilo Fischetti (London Irish, 30 Caps)
Ivan Nemer (Benetton Rugby, 11 Caps) – A Disposizione Dall’1 Luglio
Matteo Nocera (Zebre Parma, Esordiente)
Marco Riccioni (Saracens, 19 Caps)
Federico Zani (Benetton Rugby, 21 Caps)

HOOKER
Luca Bigi (Zebre Parma, 46 Caps)
Epalahame Faiva (Hurricanes, 5 Caps)
Gianmarco Lucchesi (Benetton Rugby, 17 Caps)
Marco Manfredi (Zebre Parma, 1 Cap)
Giacomo Nicotera (Benetton Rugby, 12 Caps)

SECOND ROW
Niccolò Cannone (Benetton Rugby, 30 Caps)
Edoardo Iachizzi (Vannes, 5 Caps)
Dino Lamb (Harlequins, Esordiente)
Federico Ruzza (Benetton Rugby, 41 Caps)
David Sisi (Zebre Parma, 27 Caps)
Andrea Zambonin (Zebre Parma, 2 Caps)

BACK ROW
Lorenzo Cannone (Benetton Rugby, 8 Caps)
Riccardo Favretto (Benetton Rugby, 1 Cap)
Toa Halafihi (Benetton Rugby, 9 Caps)
Michele Lamaro (Benetton Rugby, 26 Caps) – Capitano
Sebastian Negri (Benetton Rugby, 46 Caps)
Giovanni Pettinelli (Benetton Rugby, 12 Caps)
Manuel Zuliani (Benetton Rugby, 10 Caps)

SCRUMHALF:
Alessandro Fusco (Zebre Parma, 13 Caps)
Alessandro Garbisi (Benetton Rugby, 4 Caps)
Martin Page-relo (Stade Toulousain, Esordiente)
Stephen Varney (Gloucester Rugby, 19 Caps)

FLYHALF:
Tommaso Allan (Harlequins, 71 Caps)
Giacomo Da Re (Benetton Rugby, 1 Cap)
Paolo Garbisi (Montpellier, 24 Caps)

CENTRES:
Juan Ignacio Brex (Benetton Rugby, 23 Caps)
Enrico Lucchin (Zebre Parma, 1 Cap)
Leonardo Marin (Benetton Rugby, 6 Caps)
Tommaso Menoncello (Benetton Rugby, 10 Caps)
Luca Morisi (London Irish, 44 Caps)

BACK THREE:
Pierre Bruno (Zebre Parma, 12 Caps)
Ange Capuozzo (Stade Toulousain, 10 Caps)
Simone Gesi (Zebre Parma, 1 Cap)
Montanna Ioane (Melbourne Rebels, 17 Caps)
Federico Mori (Bordeaux, 12 Caps)
Paolo Odogwu (Stade Francais, Esordiente)
Edoardo Padovani (Benetton Rugby, 44 Caps)