Italy's Monty Ioane to miss Six Nations clash against France

Italy have been dealt a significant blow ahead of their upcoming Six Nations fixture against France, as star winger Monty Ioane has been ruled out due to a knee injury.

The Italian Rugby Federation (FIR) confirmed the news on Thursday, leaving head coach Gonzalo Quesada with another selection challenge as he prepares for the match in Rome next weekend.

Ioane has been a key figure for the Azzurri, featuring in both of their Six Nations matches so far—a 31-19 defeat to Scotland and a hard-fought 22-15 victory over Wales.

His absence leaves Italy without a crucial attacking weapon against a strong French side that currently sits second in the tournament standings.

The loss of Ioane compounds Italy’s ongoing injury crisis, with Louis Lynagh and Paolo Odogwu already unavailable for selection. Lock Andrea Zamobonin was also ruled out earlier in the competition, further limiting Quesada’s squad depth.

Adding to Italy’s selection concerns, lock Dino Lamb will also miss the upcoming match against France due to a shoulder injury.

However, prop Mirco Spagnolo has returned to the wider squad after serving a suspension, providing some relief to the team’s forward pack.

Italy currently are positioned fifth in the Six Nations standings after two rounds, while France remains in contention for the title, positioned second behind unbeaten Ireland.