Italy all but confirm the end of Parisse's international career
By Rugby Onslaught

Italy all but confirm the end of Parisse’s international career

Former Italy captain Sergio Parisse has not been included in Italy’s 33-man squad for the remainder of the Six Nations and has rather opted to remain with his club Toulon.

The 38-year-old has long been waiting for this glorious swansong which he was robbed of at the 2019 World Cup due to Typhoon Hagibis. Covid then struck in 2020, so he has been waiting a very long time to play in front of an Italian crowd.  But with Toulon languishing in 12th in the Top 14, the 142-cap No8 has opted to remain on the Cote d’Azur.

It now seems unlikely that Parisse will win that one final cap for his country. Then again, that would have been harsh on the member of Italy’s back row who would have had to miss out, as that is an area of strength for the Azzurri at the moment.

Italy host Scotland in round five of the Six Nations and travel to Wales in round six where they will be looking for their first win since 2015, having lost their last 35.

Italy Squad:

Props
Pietro CECCARELLI (Brive, 19 caps)
Danilo FISCHETTI (Zebre Parma, 18 caps)
Ivan NEMER (Benetton Rugby, 5 caps)
Tiziano PASQUALI (Benetton Rugby, 24 caps)
Cherif TRAORE ‘(Benetton Rugby, 13 caps)
Giosuè ZILOCCHI (Zebre Parma, 16 caps)

Hookers
Luca BIGI (Zebre Parma, 40 caps)
Giacomo NICOTERA (Benetton Rugby, newcomer)
Federico ZANI (Benetton Rugby, 16 caps)

Second-rows
Niccolò CANNONE (Benetton Rugby, 18 caps)
Marco FUSER (Newcastle Falcons, 36 caps)
Federico RUZZA (Benetton Rugby, 28 caps)
David SISI (Zebre Parma, 19 caps)

Back-rows
Toa HALAFIHI (Benetton Rugby, 3 caps)
Michele LAMARO (Benetton Rugby, 13 caps) – captain
Sebastian NEGRI (Benetton Rugby, 37 caps)
Giovanni PETTINELLI (Benetton Rugby, 4 caps)
Braam STEYN (Benetton Rugby, 48 caps)
Manuel ZULIANI (Benetton Rugby, 2 caps)

Scrum-halves
Manfredi ALBANESE (Rugby Transvecta Calvisano, rookie)
Callum BRALEY (Benetton Rugby, 13 caps)
Alessandro FUSCO (Fiamme Oro Rugby / Zebre Parma, 4 caps)

Fly-halves
Giacomo DA RE (Benetton Rugby / FEMI-CZ Rovigo, rookie)
Paolo GARBISI (Montpellier, 16 caps)
Leonardo MARIN (Benetton Rugby, 3 caps)

Centres
Juan Ignacio BREX (Benetton Rugby, 11 caps)
Marco ZANON (Benetton Rugby, 10 caps)

Wings / fullbacks
Pierre BRUNO (Zebre Parma, 2 caps)
Ange CAPUOZZO (Grenoble, newcomer)
Simone GESI (HBS Colorno, newcomer)
Montanna IOANE (Benetton Rugby, 12 caps)
Federico MORI (Bordeaux, 12 caps)
Edoardo PADOVANI (Benetton Rugby, 33 caps)

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