Quesada drops Capuozzo from Italy's Nations Championship squad due to Top 14 commitments

Gonzalo Quesada has omitted Ange Capuozzo from Italy’s 33-man squad for the inaugural Nations Championship this July, with the Toulouse wing’s Top 14 commitments preventing him from attending the full preparation camp in Italy.

Capuozzo and Stade Français hooker Giacomo Nicotera were both passed over for the same reason: their clubs’ involvement in the late stages of the Top 14 means the pair would miss the entirety of Italy’s pre-tour training block in Parma and Treviso. Quesada was clear that availability for preparation, not form, was the deciding factor.

“For this reason, at this stage, we have not considered Ange Capuozzo and Giacomo Nicotera, who will be busy with their respective teams in the final stages of the Top 14 and will miss the entire preparation in Italy,” the head coach said.

Italy open their Nations Championship campaign against Japan in Tokyo on 4 July before travelling to Wellington to face New Zealand and then Perth to take on Australia. Three uncapped players have been included in the squad, though Quesada did not name them specifically in his announcement.

Four players involved in the Gallagher Premiership final — Danilo Fischetti, Ross Vintcent, Stephen Varney and Andrea Zambonin — will link up with the group after Saturday’s match.

Quesada framed the new competition as a significant moment for the sport and acknowledged the scale of the challenge facing his side. “Almost all the teams we’ll face between July and November are ahead of us in the World Rankings: it’s a very exciting challenge,” he said.

The Italy head coach expressed confidence in his group despite many players having gone several weeks without competitive rugby. “I know the quality of work this staff is capable of delivering and I know the energy, dedication and commitment this group brings on the pitch,” he added.