Italy’s 2026 Six Nations campaign begins under unusual circumstances. Gonzalo Quesada’s squad is missing several established pillars: Tommaso Allan , Ange Capuozzo , Gianmarco Lucchesi , Sebastian Negri , Jacopo Trulla , and Ross Vintcent were all unavailable due to injury. Ordinarily, such absences might strip Italy of cohesion and cutting edge. Instead, they have opened the door for a younger generation to step forward, not merely as stopgaps, but as potential long-term cornerstones.
Italy’s 2026 Six Nations campaign begins under unusual circumstances. Gonzalo Quesada’s squad is missing several established pillars: Tommaso Allan, Ange Capuozzo, Gianmarco Lucchesi, Sebastian Negri, Jacopo Trulla, and Ross Vintcent were all unavailable due to injury. Ordinarily, such absences might strip Italy of cohesion and cutting edge. Instead, they have opened the door for a younger generation to step forward, not merely as stopgaps, but as potential long-term cornerstones.
Here are 4 players I believe will bring a fresh impetus into this injury stricken Italian squad.
Few players in the squad arrive with as much momentum as Edoardo Todaro. Still a teenager, the Northampton Saints winger has risen at remarkable speed, transitioning from Italy U20 standout to Premiership finisher and now senior international vs Chile. His playing style is unmistakably modern: explosive acceleration, sharp footwork, and an instinctive understanding of broken-field opportunities.
Projected Six Nations role:
Todaro may not start every match, but he is likely to be used as a high-impact attacking weapon, either on the wing or covering multiple back-three positions. With Capuozzo unavailable, Italy currently lack a natural chaos-creator, and Todaro is the closest thing they have. Expect him to be trusted late in games, where his pace against tiring defences could be decisive. Imagine Freeman vs Todaro in Rome in the 75th Minute, running down the wing against one another. The Flash vs Sonic vibes.
In stylistic terms, Todaro fits the mould of a pure finisher rather than a possession-heavy fullback. His development suggests Italy are leaning toward a backline that can strike quickly rather than endlessly recycle. If he converts chances consistently, his role could rapidly expand from impact substitute to automatic starter.
If Todaro represents Italy’s attacking future, David Odiase embodies its physical and psychological evolution. A former Italy U20 captain, Odiase plays with a blend of aggression and composure that belies his age. He is a breakdown specialist first and foremost, but his carrying and defensive work hint at a more complete back-row profile.
The 23 year old is likely to be used initially as part of the back-row rotation, covering openside and blindside roles depending on opposition. With Negri and Vintcent unavailable, Italy lacked depth in the loose forwards, making Odiase’s energy and work rate invaluable.
Stylistically, he mirrors the modern international flanker: relentless at the tackle, disruptive over the ball, and disciplined enough to sustain pressure over long defensive sets. In time, he could become a successor to Michele Lamaro as both a tactical leader and emotional driver of the pack.
In contrast to the flair of Todaro or the dynamism of Odiase, Muhamed Hasa represents something less glamorous but equally vital: stability. The 24 year old prop’s steady progression through the URC has made him a reliable scrummager and a dependable presence in tight exchanges.
Projected Six Nations role:
Hasa is expected to feature as part of Italy’s front row depth, likely starting against physically dominant opponents or coming off the bench to preserve scrum integrity. With Lucchesi sidelined, Italy’s set piece becomes even more important, and Hasa’s reliability could be crucial in preventing early momentum swings.
His style is closer to that of a traditional anchor prop: strong core technique, minimal errors, and consistent output. He may never be a headline player, but championship campaigns are built on players like Hasa who ensure Italy can remain competitive in the game’s most unforgiving areas.
While much attention focuses on Italy’s wings and back row, Giacomo Da Re could quietly shape the team’s identity more than anyone else. Comfortable at fly-half or fullback, Da Re offers tactical control, measured kicking, and calm decision-making, qualities that become vital when games tighten.
Projected Six Nations role:
Da Re is likely to serve as a secondary playmaker, either backing up Paolo Garbisi at fly-half or starting at fullback in matches where territorial discipline is prioritised. With Allan injured, Italy lose a key organiser and Da Re’s adaptability helps fill that void.
Stylistically, he leans toward the pragmatic rather than the flamboyant. He is a tempo-setter, capable of slowing games down and guiding Italy through difficult phases. In a young team, that composure may prove invaluable.
The absence of Allan, Capuozzo, Lucchesi, Negri, Trulla and Vintcent removes experience, leadership, and familiarity, but it also accelerates responsibility for the inexperienced players. Rather than shielding their prospects, Italy are placing them directly into Six Nations intensity, first up vs Scotland in Rome.
What makes this group compelling is how complementary they are. Todaro brings speed and instinct, after demonstrating that in the Domestic and European matches for Northampton Saints. Odiase brings physicality and leadership. Hasa provides the structural foundation. Da Re supplies tactical balance. Together, they form a spine that touches every phase of the game.
Italy’s immediate Six Nations ambitions may remain modest, but the longer view is increasingly coherent. This is no longer a collection of isolated prospects; it is the early shape of a core group that could grow together through multiple championship cycles.
If managed correctly, with patience, clarity of roles, and consistent club exposure, these players could become the nucleus of an Italian side that is not merely competitive, but confident. The injuries that forced their inclusion may yet prove to be the catalyst that finally pushes Italian rugby into its next era.