[ FOOTBALL LIVE ]
(ANSA) - ROME, AUG 8 - Italy centre Tommaso Menoncello will
miss the Rugby World Cup after the Italian Rugby Federation
(FIR) said Tuesday that an arm-muscle injury he suffered in
Saturday's 33-17 defeat to Ireland in a warm-up game requires
surgery.
The 20-year-old, who scored one of Italy's tries in Dublin, came
off minutes from the end in tears.
The injury is expected to keep him sidelined for at least four
months.
Azzurri Coach Kieran Crowley has had to postpone the
announcement of his World Cup squad from this Thursday until
August 22 due to a series of injury worries.
The federation said Monday that prop Marco Riccioni, who came
off after 10 minutes in Dublin, suffered a knee injury and
scrum-half Stephen Varney, who was replaced at half-time, hurt
his shoulder.
It said the situations of both players would be re-assessed in
the coming days.
Italy's opening match of the World Cup in France is against
Namibia on September 9 in Saint-Étienne.
They face a massive challenge to finish in the top two of Pool A
to qualify for the quarter-finals for the first time as hosts
France and the legendary New Zealand All Blacks are in the same
group, along with Namibia and Uruguay. (ANSA).
