Fullback Edoardo Padovani (30) is among three Italian players who have been ruled out of this year's Rugby World Cup, coach Kieran Crowley said on Thursday.
Flyhalf Leonardo Marin (21) and hooker Gianmarco Lucchesi (22) will also miss out after doctors said they would not be ready in time but key player Ange Capuozzo is expected to recover for the tournament, which starts in France on September 8th.
Dazzling fullback Capuozzo (24), who suffered a shoulder injury in April, misses out on Saturday’s warm-up test against Scotland at Murrayfield and will not be considered for the international against Ireland in Dublin next week.
“But he should be ready for our warm-up game against Romania,” said Crowley.
Italy take on the Romanians on August 19th in their penultimate warm-up before the World Cup.
