Giosuè Zilocchi

Forged in the Italian forward tradition, Giosuè Zilocchi is a forward who has featured in the Italy set-up as the national side has worked to harden its pack. Born on 15 January 1997, he brings the combative, no-nonsense temperament that has come to characterise Italy's recent forward effort. His contribution is rooted in the unglamorous areas of the game — the set piece, the breakdown and the collision zones where Test matches are won and lost. Zilocchi is valued for his physicality and his appetite for the tight exchanges, providing energy and resistance in defence while supporting the team's platform up front. As Italy has sought to close the gap on the established powers of the Six Nations, players of his profile — durable, willing and uncompromising — have been central to that ambition. His role is to do the heavy lifting that allows the Azzurri's more expansive talents to operate, embodying the gritty, competitive spirit the side has tried to build. For Italy, Zilocchi represents the kind of dependable forward graft that underpins any serious attempt to compete at the highest level of the international game.