Tuesday 9 January 2018 19:28, UK
Italy have announced a 34-man training squad ahead of the Six Nations, with Alessandro Zanni included by Conor O'Shea.
The Benetton back-row forward - who has 99 Italy caps - last played for Italy in the 2016 Six Nations, and is joined in the squad by Gloucester flanker Jake Polledri, who receives his first call-up.
Glasgow Warriors wing Leonardo Sarto and Benetton fly-half Tommaso Allan also make the squad having missed part of Italy's autumn international campaign.
In addition to the 34 players O'Shea has called-up, Benetton props Marco Riccioni and Cherif Traore will train with the squad.
O'Shea said: "The exciting aspect in this group is the number of options we are developing and the choices we now have available.
"We must continue to build depth and we are aware of having to improve but we have made important progress compared to a year ago.
"I am aware we will be judged on the results but we all know the level of play we will face and the challenges that await us in every game."
The training camp will take place in Rome from January 21-24 after which O'Shea will name a final 31-man squad.
Italy, who have finished bottom of the previous two Six Nations, begin their campaign at home to current champions England before travelling to play Ireland six days later.
Meanwhile, former New Zealand coach Wayne Smith has confirmed he will work alongside the Italy coaches as a mentor.
Smith, who recently had surgery to treat prostate cancer, said: "I'll be doing two to three weeks with the Italian national team coaches over the year. I'll attend a couple of camps to have a mentoring-type role with Conor O'Shea and Mike Catt."
Italy training squad:
Forwards: Simone Ferrari, Tiziano Pasquali, Nicola Quaglio (Benetton), Andrea Lovotti (Zebre); Luca Bigi (Benetton), Leonardo Ghiraldini (Toulouse/FRA), Oliviero Fabiani (Zebre); George Biagi (Zebre), Dean Budd, Marco Fuser, Federico Ruzza, Alessandro Zanni (all Benetton); Renato Giammarioli, Maxime Mbanda (Zebre), Giovanni Licata (Fiamme Oro), Sebastian Negri, Abraham Steyn (all Benetton), Sergio Parisse (Stade Francais), Jake Polledri (Gloucester).
Backs: Edoardo Gori, Tito Tebaldi, Tommaso Allan, Ian McKinley (Benetton), Carlo Canna, Marcello Violi (Zebre); Mattia Bellini, Giulio Bisegni, Tommaso Boni, Tommaso Castello, Matteo Minozzi, Edoardo Padovani (Zebre); Tommaso Benvenuti, Jayden Hayward (Benetton); Leonardo Sarto (Glasgow/SCO).
Additional players: Marco Riccioni (Benetton) - prop: Cherif Traore (Benetton) - prop.
