Kelly Haimona selected in new-look Italy squad

Kelly Haimona has returned from injury in time to be selected for Italy's 2016 RBS Six Nations squad, with the squad also featuring ten uncapped players. 

Long-serving number eight Sergio Parisse continues as captain, but Italy are missing ten first-choice options ahead of their Six Nations opener against France in Paris on Saturday, February 6.

Zebre team-mates Carlo Canna and the previously uncapped Edoardo Padovani will compete for the role of starting fly-half, with Haimona set to be deployed in the Italian midfield.

Head coach Jacques Brunel believes Italy will be boosted by the returning presence of lock George Biagi and centres Giulio Bisegni and Haimona, who missed the World Cup with a broken arm.

"Training camps this winter have allowed us to see a large number of athletes and evaluate attractive alternatives to our many injuries we have to confront in the first part of the tournament," said Brunel.

"We have some significant returns, like Biagi, Bisegni and Haimona, who all had good impacts in the last Six Nations before getting injured."

New fly-half Padovani heads a lengthy list of rookie selections for Italy, with front-rowers Andrea Lovotti, Matteo Zanusso and Ornel Gega joined by back-row forwards Jacopo Sarto, Abraham Steyn and Andries van Schalkwyk.

Back-three trio Mattia Bellini, Tommaso Castello and David Odiete complete the rollcall of Italy's untested recruits.

Playmaker Tommaso Allan, tight-five duo Josh Furno and Quintin Geldenhuys, and Leicester front-rower Michele Rizzo have all been ruled out of the first few weeks of Italy's Six Nations campaign.

The quartet are among ten injured Italy stars unavailble for Brunel's 30-strong squad, although the head coach is hoping a number of those currently sidelined will eventually be able to feature later on in the competition.