Leonardo Ghiraldini excited to join centurions when Italy face Sotland in Guinness Six Nations in Rome

Leonardo Ghiraldini is not one for basking in the limelight but he admits there will be something special about joining Italian rugby's centurions at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday. The former Italy skipper, who represented the Azzurri 107 times in all, is one of eight centurions who will be celebrated before the Guinness Six Nations clash between Italy and Scotland in Rome this weekend. Ad/> Only Sergio Parisse, in action for club side Toulon, will be absent, with Ghiraldini and six male counterparts joining Sara Barattin, Italy's only female centurion.

RugbyEngland response to Calcutta Cup defeat impressive — McInally4 HOURS AGO And the hooker, who called time on his international career in 2021, admits there will be plenty of emotion about being part of the Italian rugby family. He said: «I'm very happy to be involved. When we talk about rugby, this is the legacy that you want to leave.

When you represent your country it's a huge responsibility. »If you play more than 100 games it's fantastic. I don't like too much celebration of this but you know that you are part of a family.

«In the changing room at the Stadio Olimpico they have all the players who played for the national team and it has the name and the number of the player. You see that you are small part of a big family. »Achieving 100 caps for your country is unbelievable and if I see the people, the names have been able to reach these goals, before the player comes the person.

These are all incredible people and they made a big effort to get better. Hopefully it will be a great day." The eight players will each receive an exclusive cap to recognise the extraordinary service they have given to Italian rugby. Ghiraldini will be joined by fellow front-rowers