Milan (AFP)

Back among the youngsters. Leonardo Ghiraldini (104 capes), injured in March, was recalled in the list of 31 players from Italy for the World Cup, marked by the presence of many young people, announced the Italian federation Sunday.

The former 34-year-old Toulouse hooker suffered a broken cruciate ligament in his right knee in March against France during the Six Nations Tournament, and did not know if he would be reinstated in time for his fourth Cup World ranking in Japan (from September 20th to November 2nd).

But the vice-Italian captain - with Sergio Parisse and Alessandro Zanni - of a young group that will have 23 players who have never played in a World Cup, was selected by the technician Conor O'Shea.

The Irish coach of the XV of Italy, who reduced his provisional group of 44 men to 31 after the overwhelming 85-15 success against Russia in Saturday's friendly, said he had made "the toughest choice of his career, because it's the dream of all players to represent Italy at the World Cup ".

He also decided to retain the veteran Sergio Parisse (35, 138 capes), No. 8 Toulon and only representative of the Top 14 in this selection which has 15 players from the Benetton club (Treviso), and 10 from Zebre (Parma ).

Parisse will also join the very closed circle of players who played five World Cups, along with his compatriot Mauro Bergamasco and Samoan Brian Lima.

The group of Italy for the World Cup in Japan:

Forwards (18): Simone Ferrari (Benetton), Andrea Lovotti (Zebra), Tiziano Pasquali (Benetton), Nicola Quaglio (Benetton), Marco Riccioni (Benetton), Federico Zani (Benetton), Luca Bigi (Zebra), Oliviero Fabiani ( Zebre), Leonardo Ghiraldini (without team), Dean Budd (Benetton), Federico Ruzza (Benetton), David Sisi (Zebra), Alessandro Zanni (Benetton), Maxime Mbanda (Zebra), Sebastian Negri (Benetton), Sergio Parisse (Toulon) - cap.), Jake Polledri (Gloucester), Abraham Steyn (Benetton)

Back (13): Callum Braley (Gloucester), Guglielmo Palazzani (Zebra), Tito Tebaldi (Benetton), Tommaso Allan (Benetton), Carlo Canna (Zebra), Tommaso Benvenuti (Benetton), Michele Campagnaro (Harlequins), Luca Morisi ( Benetton), Mattia Bellini (Zebra), Giulio Bisegni (Zebra), Jayden Hayward (Benetton), Matteo Minozzi (Wasps), Edoardo Padovani (Zebra)

© 2019 AFP