Two new names in Italy squad for autumn

CONOR O’Shea believes Italian rugby is going in the right direction after selecting a 37-man squad for the Autumn internationals next month.

Two uncapped players have been called up for the games against Ireland, Georgia, Australia and New Zealand in November, with Johan Meyer and Jimmy Tuivaiti getting the nod.

The Azzurri will travel to Chicago to face Ireland on November 3 before taking on Georgia in Florence a week later.

O’Shea’s men then welcome the Wallabies to Padua on November 17, with New Zealand completing the schedule in Rome on November 24.

O’Shea said: “We have selected a really exciting group of players, which highlights the progress we have made over the past two years to build the depth needed to make us competitive again.

“If you think of players not available due to injury such as Giovanni Licata, Matteo Minozzi, Leonardo Sarto, Angelo) Esposito Ornel Gega, Maxime Mbanda and Federico Zani it is easy to understand that, with much to do, we’re going in the right direction.

“The fact that we are starting to see real growth within the movement is due to the work of Benetton Rugby, Zebre and people within our system.

“We have selected a wider squad considering the challenges that await us this fall and in view of the World Cup, now less than a year away, and we hope that most of the athletes will have the opportunity to take the field.”