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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.
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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.
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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)
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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)
Comments on RugbyPass
Ah, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
48 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
22 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
22 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
22 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
22 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
1 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
22 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
17 Go to commentsNot good to hear Ulster described as “financially troubled”. Did not think it was getting to that level. I would hope the Irish system of spreading players of talent away from Leinster would kick in now. Better to have a Leinster fringe player with Ulster or Connacht, then getting only a few games a season in Dublin. 10, for example, would seem to be a case for spreading the talent. I would not be at all adverse to a SA man coming in as head coach/DR. Ludeke is worth trying. Certainly got a long and impressive coaching career at this level…..149 games in SR, then Japan, 30 years experience. And Ulster’s ledger of successful SA coaches and players is on the positive side. Is talk of Ruan Pienaar interested in coming back as a coach…..could be a good combination with Ludeke. And Pienaar and family would have no settling in to do, one would judge. He loved life in Ulster when there, by all reports.
1 Go to commentsSome thoughts to consider here, Sam. Thanks
2 Go to commentsI think he is right, SBW is respected in RSA. The guy who never stood up is a worm. Sseems lots of NZ SBW hate, you do the crime do the time.
17 Go to commentsAfter missing the curfew, the player was simply too “Shagged” to stand up.
17 Go to commentsVernier is probably the best 12 in the world though she has some English competition these days . I am nervous for England because it is unpredictable France and who knows which team will turn up, but they have not yet shown anything that should worry England, Saturday could be a different day. I would be more confident against the BFs.
1 Go to commentsWhat a difference Rodda and Carter made. Rodda has been out for ages but he is really the only world class lock in Australian rugby. Him, Carter and Beale made a huge difference on the weekend. If only they had a few decent props they’d be a much more dangerous team. Hamish Stewart was excellent last week as well. His carrying has improved significantly and has to be next in line after Paisami at 12 for the Wallabies. He’ll benefit hugely with Beale at fullback, there’s just no better communicator in Australian rugby than him and his experience will make a huge difference for the Force. No one sees space like Beale and he’s still sharp. I can see Force making a late charge into the top 8 if they can get some consistency.
2 Go to comments