Italy coach Nick Mallett on Tuesday named a 30-man squad for his side's remaining Six Nations matches against Wales on March 14 and against France on March 21.

The squad will meet on Sunday in Rome, where both matches are due to take place.

Two days later the squad will be reduced in number to 24, according to the Italian rugby federation.

Eight players join the group that lost to Scotland 26-6 in Edinburgh on Saturday, a defeat that looks likely to leave them with the wooden spoon.

Biarritz back Andrea Masi returns after missing the last three weeks through suspension, while Mallett has promoted seven players from the Italy A team that drew 22-22 against Scotland on Friday.

Those called up are fly-half Kristopher Burton, back-row forwards Simone Favaro and Jean-Francois Montauriol, second-row forward Tommaso Reato, prop Fabio Staibano, centre Roberto Quartaroli and winger Michele Sepe.

Prior to their defeat in Scotland, Italy lost 38-9 against Ireland and went down 36-11 against England.

Italy squad

Forwards (16): Mauro Bergamasco (Stade Francais/FRA), Marco Bortolami (Gloucester/ENG), Martin Castrogiovanni (Leicester/ENG), Carlo Antonio Del Fava (Ulster/IRL), Santiago Dellape (Toulon/FRA), Simone Favaro (Rovigo), Leonardo Ghiraldini (Calvisano), Jean-Francois Montauriol (Venezia Mestre), Carlos Nieto (Gloucester/ENG), Sergio Parisse (Stade Francais/FRA), Salvatore Perugini (Toulouse/FRA), Tommaso Reato (Rovigo), Franco Sbaraglini (Treviso), Josh Sole (Viadana), Fabio Staibano (Castres/FRA), Alessandro Zanni (Calvisano)

Backs (14): Andrea Bacchetti (Rovigo), Mirco Bergamasco (Stade Francais/FRA), Kristopher Burton (Prato), Gonzalo Canale (Clermont/FRA), Pablo Canavosio (Viadana), Paul Griffen (Calvisano), Andrea Marcato (Treviso), Andrea Masi (Biarritz/FRA), Luke McLean (Calvisano), Gilberto Pavan (Overmach Parma), Matteo Pratichetti (Calvisano), Roberto Quartaroli (Overmach Parma), Giulio Rubini (Overmach Parma), Michele Sepe (Capitolina Roma)

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