Mauro Bergamasco has been named in Italy’s 30-man World Cup squad.
The veteran flanker returns to the Italy fold following a shoulder injury that resulted in a summer stint with Itlay ‘A’ in the Churchill Cup.
Stade Francais number eight Sergio Parisse retains the captaincy and joins Bergamasco in the back row alongside Alessandro Zanni, Robert Barbieri and Paul Derbyshire.
Both Bergamasco and Racing Metro prop Andrea Lo Cicero enter their third World Cup tournaments, while 14 players will make their debuts on the world stage.
The Azzurri, who have never made it out of the group stages of the World Cup, will line up against Ireland, Russia, the United States and two-time champions Australia in Group C.
