Paolo Odogwu named in Italy training squad

Italy head coach Kieran Crowley has unveiled a 46-man training squad ahead of the upcoming Rugby World Cup.

The squad contains five uncapped players including former England prospect Paolo Odogwu. The 26-year-old was part of England's Six Nations squad in 2021 but has never featured in any Tests. He qualifies to play for Italy through his father.

The other uncapped players include Harlequins lock Lamb, Zebre props Paolo Buonfiglio and Matteo Nocera, and Toulouse scrum-half Martin Page-Relo.

Former captain Sergio Parisse misses out on selection despite impressing for Toulon this season.

The squad will have a training camp in Pergine Valsugana and will face warm-up games against Scotland, Ireland, Romania and Japan leading to the World Cup.

Italy squad:

Forwards: Filippo Alongi, Paolo Buonfiglio, Pietro Ceccarelli, Simone Ferrari, Danilo Fischetti, Ivan Nemer, Matteo Nocera, Marco Riccioni, Federico Zani, Luca Bigi, Epalahame Faiva, Gianmarco Lucchesi, Marco Mandredi, Giacomo Nicotera, Niccolò Cannone, Edoardo Iachizzi, Dino Lamb, Federico Ruzza, David Sisi, Andrea Zambonin, Lorenzo Cannone, Riccardo Favretto, Toa Halafihi, Michele Lamaro (c), Sebastian Negri, Giovanni Pettinelli, Manuel Zuliani

Backs: Alessandro Fusco, Alessandro Garbisi, Martin Page-Relo, Stephen Varney, Tommaso Allan, Giacomo Da Re, Paolo Garbisi, Juan Ignacio Brex, Enrico Lucchin, Leonardo Marin, Tommaso Menoncello, Luca Morisi, Pierre Bruno, Ange Capuozzo, Simone Gesi, Monty Ioane, Federico Mori, Paolo Odogwu, Edoardo Padovani