Italy coach Nick Mallett has made no changes to the squad that beat Samoa in November for Saturday´s RBS 6 Nations opener against Ireland at Croke Park.

ITALY head coach Nick Mallett has named his 24-man squad ahead of the RBS 6 Nations opener against Ireland at Croke Park on Saturday.

Italy head coach Nick Mallett has named his 24-man squad ahead of the RBS 6 Nations opener against Ireland at Croke Park on Saturday.

Italy are hoping grab their last chance to win a game at the ongoing U-18 Six Nations Festival in Cork when they take on the tournament hosts Ireland during the final round of games.

Wales and Italy have named their sides to play each other at the Mardyke this Saturday at 2.30pm in the U-18 Six Nations Festival sponsored by the Bowen Group.

Gran Parma centre Alessio Galante has been called up to replace Ludovico Nitoglia in Italy’s squad for the forthcoming RBS 6 Nations game against Wales.

Leeds Carnegie shrugged off their Premiership blues to take pole position in Pool Five of the European Challenge Cup at Headingley tonight with a 35-18 win over Castres Olympique, while Connacht lost away at Brive.

CONNACHT coach Michael Bradley is confident they can make it through to the knockout stages of the European Challenge Cup despite being drawn in a tough pool.

Fly-half Andrea Scanavacca was the most notable absentee from a 40-man squad named by Italy coach Pierre Berbizier today for the forthcoming Rugby World Cup.

ENGLAND flanker Lewis Moody is “devastated” to be missing the rest of the RBS 6 Nations Championship through injury.

Italy coach Pierre Berbizier has called up Gran Parma’s Roberto Mandelli to replace the injured Alessandro Zanni for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations opener against France.

Italy coach Pierre Berbizier has made three changes to his starting line-up for the Six Nations Championship clash against Wales in Cardiff.

Italy rugby chief Giancarlo Dondi has demanded the Azzurri “battle to the death” when they take on Wales in their next RBS 6 Nations Championship outing as they go in search of a first win in this year's competition.

Sale Sharks will face Agen in the last eight of the European Challenge Cup after the French side squeezed past Viadana over the two legs.

Uche O’Douza grabbed a hat-trick as Worcester cruised to emphatic 67-14 victory over Italians Rovigo at Sixways.

Italy have named their team to play Scotland in RBS 6 Nations on Saturday at Murrayfield.

Unbeaten Connacht have mounting injury problems ahead of tomorrow's Parker Pen European Shield clash with Pool Four leaders Sale in Galway.

Sale will spearhead a strong English challenge in this season’s Parker Pen European Shield - with coveted automatic Heineken Cup qualification again at stake.