ROME (AP) More than a third of Italy's squad for its first two Six Nations matches has never played in the tournament.
Italy coach Conor O'Shea revealed his 31-man squad on Thursday and 13 players could make their Six Nations debut.
The 20-year-old Benetton Rugby prop Marco Riccioni is the youngest in the squad and the only uncapped player.
Benetton flanker Alessandro Zanni could make his first Italy appearance in nearly two years - and win his 100th cap - after a series of injuries.
Glasgow Warriors wing Leonardo Sarto is out with injury as is Marco Fuser, Michele Campagnaro, Angelo Esposito, Ornel Gega and Federico Zani.
''The squad can't wait for this challenge,'' said O'Shea, ahead of his second Six Nations tournament as coach. ''We wish Leonardo a speedy recovery from his injury and we don't doubt that we will need the whole group, including the players who haven't been called up for these first two matches.
''It will be an incredibly tough tournament, but we are enthusiastic to start against England, in front of our home fans at the Olimpico.''
Italy hosts defending champion England on Feb. 4 before traveling to Dublin to play Ireland six days later.
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Squad:
Forwards: Simone Ferrari, Andrea Lovotti, Tiziano Pasquali, Nicola Quaglio, Marco Riccioni, Luca Bigi, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Oliviero Fabiani, George Biagi, Dean Budd, Federico Ruzza, Alessandro Zanni, Renato Giammarioli, Maxime Mbanda, Giovanni Licata, Sebastian Negri, Sergio Parisse, Abraham Steyn.
Backs: Edoardo Gori, Marcello Violi, Tommaso Allan, Carlo Canna, Ian Mckinley, Mattia Bellini, Tommaso Benvenuti, Giulio Bisegni, Tommaso Boni, Tommaso Castello, Jayden Hayward, Matteo Minozzi, Edoardo Padovani.
