Jacques Brunel has named four uncapped backs in his 31-man Six Nations squad.

Calvisano's Marcello Violi - who plays in Italy's top domestic competition - is named, as are Treviso's Simone Ragusi and Zebre's Michele Visentin and Giulio Bisegn.

"The tournament is the last real opportunity to test some young people who are proving to have interesting qualities in the Guinness PRO12 or, as in the case of Violi, at the top of the Italian top division," Brunel told reporters.

"For them it is an exciting opportunity to demonstrate their worth in the year of the Rugby World Cup."

Italy's opening match is at the Stadio Olimpico against Ireland on February 7.

Forwards:
Matias Aguero (Zebre, 29 caps), Martin Castrogiovanni (RC Toulon, 107 caps), Dario Chistolini (Zebre, 5 caps), Alberto De Marchi (Sale Sharks, 23 caps), Leonardo Ghiraldini (Leicester Tigers, 70 caps), Andrea Manici (Zebre, 6 caps), George Biagi (Zebre, 3 caps), Marco Bortolami (Zebre, 110 caps), Joshua Furno (Newcastle Falcons, 23 caps), Quintin Geldenhuys (Zebre, 52 caps), Robert Barbieri (Leicester Tigers, 38 caps), Mauro Bergamasco (Zebre, 100 caps), Simone Favaro (Benetton Treviso, 23 caps), Francesco Minto (Benetton Treviso, 11 caps), Sergio Parisse (Stade Francais, 108 caps) - Captain, Alessandro Zanni (Benetton Treviso, 86 caps)
Backs:
Edoardo Gori (Benetton Treviso, 37 caps), Guglielmo Palazzani (Zebre, 6 caps), Marcello Violi (Cammi Calvisano), Tommaso Allan (USAP Perpignan, 10 caps), Kelly Haimona (Zebre, 3 caps), Giulio Bisegni (Zebre, rookie), Michele Campagnaro (Benetton Treviso, 12 caps), Andrea Masi (London Wasps, 87 caps), Luke McLean (Sale Sharks, 63 caps), Luca Morisi (Benetton Treviso, 9 caps), Simone Ragusi (Benetton Treviso, rookie), Leonardo Sarto (Zebre, 10 caps), Giovambattista Venditti (Zebre, 22 caps), Michele Visentin (Zebre, rookie)