Vintcent Named in Italy Summer Tour Squad

Exeter Chiefs back rower Ross Vintcent has been named in Italy's 2025 Summer Tour squad.

The Chiefs player is named alongside future club teammates Stephen Varney and Andrea Zambonin in the international squad.

Gonzalo Quesada, Italy Head Coach, has made official the list of players called up for the training camp scheduled in L'Aquila - starting on Saturday 14 June - in preparation for the tour.

33 players have been called up and will meet in the capital to begin preparations for the matches scheduled between June and July against Namibia and the double confrontation with South Africa.

Seven uncapped players are included in the squad, with Pablo Dimcheff given his first ever call-up with the Men's Senior National Team.

Ginzalo Quesada said: "The management of the athletes on the one hand – and the desire to give opportunities to some young players – are the two fundamental aspects that we have taken into account, together with the technical staff, in choosing the squad for the next Summer Tour. 

"There are players who have played very many minutes in the last two seasons: we have taken into account their recovery and how to best manage the group. This is also an important opportunity for some athletes to compete at this level, as well as a reward for the commitment shown during the season with their performances. 

"The staff in the next tour will have the opportunity to work with a group made up of a mix of young and experienced athletes. Next season will be very important, the last one before the World Cup: we aim to have a rough idea of who we can involve towards the Rugby World Cup 2027 and try to increase the depth of the squad we have available."

This is the schedule of Italy's matches in the 2025 Summer Tour:

27.06.25 Namibia v Italy – Windhoek, Hage Geingbob Stadium

05.07.25 South Africa v Italy – Pretoria, Loftus Versfeld

12.07.25 South Africa v Italy – Porth Elizabeth, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium

Italy Squad

Props:

Danilo FISCHETTI (Zebre Parma, 52 caps)

Muhamed HASA (Zebre Parma, debutant)

Marco RICCIONI (Saracens, 33 caps)

Mirco SPAGNOLO (Benetton Rugby, 14 caps)

Giosuè ZILOCCHI (Benetton Rugby, 24 caps)

Hookers

Tommaso DI BARTOLOMEO (Zebre Parma, debutant)

Pablo DIMCHEFF (Colomiers Rugby, debutant)

Giacomo NICOTERA (Stade Français, 33 caps)

Locks

Matteo CANALI (Zebre Parma, debutant)

Niccolò CANNONE (Benetton Rugby, 52 caps)

Riccardo FAVRETTO (Benetton Rugby, 6 caps)

Andrea ZAMBONIN (Zebre Parma, 9 caps)

Back row

Lorenzo CANNONE (Benetton Rugby, 28 caps)

Alessandro IZEKOR (Benetton Rugby, 4 caps)

Sebastian BLACKS (Benetton Rugby, 63 caps)

David ODIASE (Oyonnax, debutant)

Ross VINTCENT (Exeter Chiefs, 14 caps)

Manuel ZULIANI (Benetton Rugby, 32 caps)

Scrum-Half

Alessandro FUSCO (Zebre Parma, 18 caps)

Alessandro GARBISI (Benetton Rugby, 16 caps)

Stephen VARNEY (Vannes, 32 caps)

Fly-halves

Giacomo DA RE (Zebre Parma, 2 caps)

Giovanni MONTEMAURI (Zebre Parma, debutant)

Centres

Giulio BERTACCINI (Valorugby Emilia, 1 cap)

Leonardo MARIN (Benetton Rugby, 14 caps)

Tommaso MENONCELLO (Benetton Rugby, 28 caps)

Federico MORI (Bayonne, 17 caps)

Marco ZANON (Benetton Rugby, 17 caps)

Back three

Mirko BELLONI (FEMI-CZ Rugby Rovigo Delta, rookie)

Simone GESI (Zebre Parma, 3 caps)

Monty IOANE (Lyon, 39 caps)

Paolo ODOGWU (Benetton Rugby, 6 caps)

Jacopo TRULLA (Zebre Parma, 14 caps)