Leicester Tigers front-row duo Leonardo Ghiraldini and Michele Rizzo are included in Italy's World Cup training squad.A squad of 40 is gathering in Italy this week for the start of their countdown under head coach Jacques Brunel.
Ghiraldini has 75 caps, while Rizzo earned a recall during the Six Nations in 2015 tomake his 16th Test appearance.
The squad also includes Robert Barbieri, who is due to return to Treviso in Italy next season after a year at Leicester, and former Tigers prop Martin Castrogiovanni who is set to join Racing 92 from Toulon.
The 31-man squad for the World Cup will be announced after Italy’s final training camp in August 9, ahead of warm-up fixtures against Scotland and Wales.
Italy's World Cup training squad:
Forwards: Matias Aguero (Zebre), Martin Castrogiovanni (Toulon), Dario Chistolini (Zebre), Lorenzo Cittadini (Wasps), Alberto De Marchi (Sale), Michele Rizzo (Leicester Tigers), Leonardo Ghiraldini (Leicester Tigers), Davide Giazzon (Treviso), Andrea Manici (Zebre), Valerio Barnabo (Zebre), George Biagi (Zebre), Marco Bortolami (Zebre), Joshua Furno (Newcastle), Marco Fuser (Treviso), Quintin Geldenhuys (Zebre), Robert Barbieri (Leicester Tigers), Marco Barbini (Treviso), Mauro Bergamasco (Zebre), Simone Favaro (Treviso), Francesco Minto (Treviso), Sergio Parisse (Stade Français), Samuela Vunisa (Zebre), Alessandro Zanni (Treviso)
Backs: Edoardo Gori (Treviso), Guglielmo Palazzani (Zebre), Marcello Violi (Calvisano), Kelly Haimona (Zebre), Tommaso Allan (Perpignan), Enrico Bacchin (Treviso), Tommaso Benvenuti (Bristol), Michele Campagnaro (Treviso), Angelo Esposito (Treviso), Gonzalo Garcia (Zebre), Andrea Masi (Wasps), Luke McLean (Sale), Luca Morisi (Treviso), Simone Ragusi (Treviso), Leonardo Sarto (Zebre), Giovanbattista Venditti (Zebre), Michele Visentin (Zebre)
Reserves: Tommaso Boni (Mogliano), Carlo Canna (Fiamme Oro), Leandro Cedaro (La Rochelle), Tommaso D'Apice (Zebre), Andrea De Marchi (Zebre), Paul Derbyshire (Treviso), Andrea Lovotti (Zebre), Alberto Lucchese (Treviso), Alberto Sgarbi (Treviso), Giulio Toniolatti (Zebre)
News
Front-row duo join Italy squad
15 June 2015 9:03 AM
Share this article
Articles
Front-row duo join Italy squad
15 June 2015 8:03 AM
Team News | Martin back for Bristol clash
25 April 2024 2:08 PM
Game Plan | Back home against Bears
23 April 2024 10:59 AM
Preview | Tigers take on Bristol Bears
25 April 2024 2:11 PM
Only single seats remain for Bristol fixture
19 April 2024 3:00 PM
Black Lion: The lowdown on Tigers' newest opponents
23 April 2024 2:30 PM
GET YOUR TICKETS HERE
Cokayne returns as Roses set for Grand Slam showdown
25 April 2024 4:00 PM
Four Tigers involved as in Scotland's final round clash in Belfast
25 April 2024 10:00 AM
Bristol week | Tigers back at Mattioli Woods Welford Road
22 April 2024 8:41 AM
Disciplinary outcome: Solomone Kata
24 April 2024 1:38 PM