Five uncapped players but no Parisse in Italy World Cup training squad

Italy have called up five uncapped players for a pre-Rugby World Cup training squad, including former England prospect Paolo Odogwu, but left ex-captain Sergio Parisse out of the 46-man selection as he seeks a record sixth global finals.

Centre-cum-wing Odogwu, 26, was in the England squad for the entire 2021 Six Nations under former coach Eddie Jones without earning a cap, and has now turned his attention to playing international rugby for Italy, qualifying through his father.

Coventry-born Odogwu, who plays for Stade Francais, had spoken openly of his desire to go to the World Cup earlier this year, and hinted his best chance lay with the Italian team.

Harlequins’ English-born lock Dino Lamb, Zebre props Paolo Buonfiglio and Matteo Nocera, and Toulouse’s French-born scrumhalf Martin Page-Relo are the other uncapped players named by Italy coach Kieran Crowley on Monday.

Former captain Parisse, 39, has been in good form for Toulon this season and had hoped for a recall despite retiring from international rugby following the 2019 World Cup, where he was denied a swansong after Italy’s final game against New Zealand was called off due to Typhoon Hagibis.

Crowley told reporters in March that loose-forward Parisse, Italy's most capped player with 142 appearances, was in his thinking for the tournament in France.

Italy will play warm-up matches against Scotland, Ireland, Romania and Japan ahead of the World Cup.

Italy training squad:

Forwards: Filippo Alongi, Paolo Buonfiglio, Pietro Ceccarelli, Simone Ferrari, Danilo Fischetti, Ivan Nemer, Matteo Nocera, Marco Riccioni, Federico Zani, Luca Bigi, Epalahame Faiva, Gianmarco Lucchesi, Marco Mandredi, Giacomo Nicotera, Niccolò Cannone, Edoardo Iachizzi, Dino Lamb, Federico Ruzza,