Italy team to play England: 2024 Six Nations

RUCK’s 2024 Guinness Six Nations content 

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Scroll down for the full Italy team to play England.

Gonzalo Quesada said ahead of the match against England:

“It's been a busy week of work. There is great enthusiasm throughout the group for the debut at the Six Nations. The staff and all the players showed a great commitment trying to quickly immerse themselves in new methodologies. We will face the third (placed) team of the RWC 2023 in an exciting tournament, at our home in the Olympic Stadium will make its support felt. Focus is on our performance. We can't wait to take the field,”

15 Tommaso ALLAN (Perpignan, 79 caps)

14 Ange CAPUOZZO (Stade Toulousain, 16 caps)

13 Juan Ignacio BREX (Benetton Rugby, 30 caps)

12 Tommaso MENONCELLO (Benetton Rugby, 12 caps)

11 Monty IOANE (Lione 25 caps)

10 Paolo GARBISI (Montpellier, 31 caps)

9 Alessandro GARBISI (Benetton Rugby, 7 caps)

8 Lorenzo CANNONE (Benetton Rugby, 16 caps)

7 Michele LAMARO (Benetton Rugby, 33 caps) – cap

6 Sebastian NEGRI (Benetton Rugby, 52 caps)

5 Federico RUZZA (Benetton Rugby, 49 caps)

4 Niccolò CANNONE (Benetton Rugby, 36 caps)

3 Pietro CECCARELLI (Perpignan, 31 caps)

2 Gianmarco LUCCHESI (Benetton Rugby, 17 caps)

1 Danilo FISCHETTI (Zebre Parma, 36 caps)

16 Giacomo NICOTERA (Benetton Rugby, 18 caps)

17 Mirco SPAGNOLO (Benetton Rugby, rebut)

18 Giosuè ZILOCCHI (Benetton Rugby, 16 caps)

19 Andrea ZAMBONIN (Zebre Parma, 3 caps)

20 Edoardo IACHIZZI (Benetton Rugby, 6 caps)

21 Manuel ZULIANI (Benetton Rugby, 17 caps)

22 Stephen VARNEY (Gloucester, 24 caps)

23 Lorenzo PANI (Zebre Parma, 5 caps)

Referee: Karl Dickson (RFU)
Assistant Referee 1: Matthew Carley (RFU)
Assistant Referee 2: Jordan Way (RA)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)

Starting his journey as a scrum-half, Dickson showcased his skills at renowned clubs like Bedford Blues and Harlequins, culminating in a heartfelt retirement announcement in 2017. Reflecting on his playing days, he remarked, "I am able to look back at my playing career with great pride. I will cherish the memories that Harlequins has given me, both on and off the field."

Expressing optimism for the future of his former team under John Kingston's guidance, Dickson acknowledged the challenge of watching from the sidelines, saying, "It will be difficult to watch on from the peripheries going forward." Notably, his younger brother, Lee, also left his mark on the rugby field, representing England.

Transitioning seamlessly from player to referee, Dickson embarked on a new chapter by studying to be a referee in 2014, even as he continued his professional playing career. His decision to pursue refereeing over a contract extension with Harlequins reflected a strategic choice for the long term, as he told Career Changers, "When it came to the final year in my contract, I had an offer on the table still from Harlequins to carry on. I thought the long-term-wise refereeing was probably something I wanted to do and pursue."

Fast forward to 2022, and Karl Dickson is set to make his mark in the prestigious Six Nations tournament as a referee, with his debut match officiating Scotland vs. France. The chairman of the World Rugby Match Officials Selection Committee, Graham Mourie, extended congratulations, noting, "I would like to extend my congratulations to Nika (Amashukeli), Damon (Murphy), and Karl, who will be refereeing their first Six Nations matches."

Looking ahead, Dickson is poised to make his World Cup debut in the 2023 tournament, taking charge of the Wales vs. Portugal clash. Beyond the rugby arena, Dickson, a family man, shares twin daughters with his wife Jocelyn. Their story began on a night out in Clapham, where Dickson crossed paths with fellow player Mike Brown. Not just a rugby enthusiast, Dickson has also worn the hat of a blogger for the parenting website Baba, adding another dimension to his multifaceted persona.

Referee: Paul Williams (NZR)
Assistant Referee 1: Nic Berry (RA)
Assistant Referee 2: Nika Amashukeli (GRU)
TMO: Brett Cronan (RA)

Born in Taranaki, New Zealand, in 1985, Paul Williams embarked on his refereeing career in 2011, all while maintaining his role as a scrum-half at the club level. Three years later, he earned a spot in the prestigious New Zealand High Performance referee squad, rapidly progressing through the ranks within the domestic scene. By 2016, Williams made the decisive move to become a full-time referee, securing a coveted position on the Super Rugby panel.

In addition to his contributions to Super Rugby matches, Williams officiated the 2016 World Rugby U20 Championship final between England and Ireland before taking on the responsibility of overseeing his inaugural international test match the following year.

His prowess as a referee was recognized on the global stage when he was selected to officiate at the esteemed 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan. The subsequent year marked a historic moment for Williams as he became the first New Zealand-born referee to take charge of an All Blacks' test. This groundbreaking achievement unfolded during the opening game of the Bledisloe Cup series in Wellington, cementing Paul Williams' status as a distinguished figure in international rugby officiating.

Referee: Ben O'Keeffe (NZR)
Assistant Referee 1: James Doleman (NZR)
Assistant Referee 2: Angus Mabey (NZR)
TMO: Brendon Pickerill (NZR)

Commencing his officiating journey at the young age of 19 in 2008, he later ascended to the status of a professional referee for the New Zealand Rugby Union in 2013.

In 2015, he made a notable mark by officiating his first Super Rugby match when the Highlanders clashed with the Crusaders. Prior to this milestone, he had served as an assistant referee and had blown the whistle on matches at the Junior World Championship. A year down the line, he stepped onto the international stage, taking charge of the Samoa versus Georgia match, which concluded in a 19-all draw.

Notably, O’Keeffe achieved a significant feat by being the youngest referee at the Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan. His debut on this grand stage occurred during the Australia versus Fiji match at the Sapporo Dome, further solidifying his presence and capabilities in the world of rugby officiating.

The brains behind the Six Nations masterplans, these head coaches have all won 'Rugby's Greatest Championship', since the modernised competition began back in 2000. Throughout the history of the competition, there have been only five head coaches to win the competition on more than one occasion.

However, Ireland head coach Andy Farrell is looking to become the sixth, as he orchestrates the men from the Emerald Isle into defending their Six Nations Grand Slam. In total, the Six Nations has been won by 13 different head coaches, and we challenge you to name them all in the next six minutes!

Your time starts... now! Good luck!