Chiefs duo named in Italian autumn squad
Published on: 21/10/2026
Exeter Chiefs pair Stephen Varney and Ross Vintcent have been named in the Italian 34-player squad for the autumn rounds of the 2026 Nations Championship.
Vintcent joins fellow recent injury returnee Lorenzo Cannone in the group of six back-rowers selected while Varney links up with Alessandro Garbisi and Alessandro Fusco in the scrum-half group.
Varney said: “I’m thrilled to be joining up with Italy for the autumn international block. To be playing against opposition like the Springboks, Argentina and Fiji is amazing. I’m really excited to get started with this group.”
Benetton Rugby and Zebre Parma see the most representation in the squad but there are 12 players from Gallagher PREM or French Top14 and ProD2 clubs.
Italy will be on home soil for the second stage of the championship as they face fierce competition from South Africa, Argentina and Fiji.
The Azzurri are currently suffering from 12 different injuries, including Chiefs’ lock Andrea Zambonin and centre Tommaso Menoncello who was injured in the Stade Toulousain v Exeter Chiefs game on Sunday afternoon.
Head coach of Italy Gonzalo Quesada said: “I can’t wait to come together with this group again to face a new international window together. We have good memories of last November with home victories against Australia and Chile and a great performance against South Africa.”
He added: “I have great confidence in the staff I work with, a group made up of people and professionals of great quality, and in the ability of our players to understand the dimension of the challenge that awaits us. I am sure that we will be ready to face it.
“We know how important it will be to prepare in the best possible conditions and, above all, how special it will be to return to play in Italy, in front of our fans, our families and all the people who love this national team.”
After their three back-to-back home games in Turin, Genoa and Udine, the Italians will travel to Allianz Stadium, Twickenham to take part in the Championship’s showcase Finals Weekend on the weekend 26 November.
Forwards:
Simone Ferrari (Benetton Rugby, 73 caps)
Danilo Fischetti (Northampton Saints 66 caps)
Muhamed Hasa (Zebre Parma, 11 caps)
Marco Riccioni (Perpignan, 39 caps)
Mirco Spagnolo (Benetton Rugby, 26 caps)
Tommaso Di Bartolomeo (Zebre Parma, 12 caps)
Gianmarco Lucchesi (Toulon, 36 caps)
Giacomo Nicotera (Stade Français, 41 caps)
Niccolò Cannone (Benetton Rugby, 65 caps)
Mattia Midena (Benetton Rugby, rookie)
Enoch Opoku Gyamfi (Bath, 1 ch)
Federico Ruzza (Benetton Rugby, 74 caps)
Lorenzo Cannone (Benetton Rugby, 40 caps)
Michele Lamaro (Benetton Rugby, 57 caps)
Samuele Locatelli (Zebre Parma, debutant)
Alessandro Ortombina (Zebre Parma, 2 caps)
Ross Vintcent (Exeter Chiefs, 22 caps)
Manuel Zuliani (Benetton Rugby, 43 caps)
Backs:
Alessandro Garbisi (Benetton Rugby 25 caps)
Alessandro Fusco (Zebre Parma, 27 caps)
Stephen Varney (Exeter Chiefs 39 caps)
Tommaso Allan (Zebre Parma, 91 caps)
Paolo Garbisi (Perpignan, 57 caps)
Juan Ignacio Brex (Toulon, 55 caps)
Leonardo Marin (Benetton Rugby, 25 caps)
Damiano Mazza (Zebre Parma, debutant)
Federico Mori (Bayonne, 17 caps)
Mirko Belloni (Zebre Parma, 3 caps)
Ange Capuozzo (Stade Toulousain, 32 caps)
Matt Gallagher (Benetton Rugby, 3 caps)
Monty Ioane (Lyon, 49 caps)
Louis Lynagh (Benetton Rugby, 16 caps)
Giovanni Montemauri (Zebre Parma, debutant)
Paolo Odogwu (Benetton Rugby, 10 caps)
Written By:
Exeter Chiefs Rugby Club
