Chiefs duo named in Azzurri Six Nations squad

Scrum-half Stephen Varney and lock Andrea Zambonin have both been included in Italy’s 2026 Guinness Six Nations squad.

Italian head coach Gonzalo Quesada selected the Chiefs pair in amongst his squad of 33 players, two are uncapped as Zebre’s Damiano Mazza and Samuele Locatelli are both selected for the first time.

Zambonin has struck up an impressive partnership with Dafydd Jenkins in Chiefs colours this season, thus earning his call up to the squad as one of four locks selected while Varney will compete on-form with Alessandro Fusco and Martin Page-Relo for the scrum-half shirt.

Quesada said: “These days in training camp are very important, full of enthusiasm waiting to take the field in the oldest rugby tournament in the world facing some of the best national teams in the rugby scene.”

The squad, which is split 18 forwards to 15 backs, includes three other PREM players as Saracens prop Marco Riccioni is selected as well as Northampton Saints’ pair Danilo Fischetti and Edoardo Todaro.

Italy open their 2026 campaign against Scotland at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday, 7 February live on BBC Sport.

A full list of Guinness Six Nations fixtures can be found here.