Italy will be without centre Tommaso Menoncello for their upcoming Nations Championship campaign after the Italian Rugby Federation confirmed a shoulder injury has forced him out of the squad announced on Wednesday. The 24-year-old lasted just six minutes of Toulouse's Champions Cup win over Exeter on Sunday before departing injured.
Azzurri head coach Gonzalo Quesada faces a mounting casualty list, with scrumhalf Martin Page-Relo, back-rower Sebastian Negri and Zebre fullback Lorenzo Pani also unavailable for the tournament. Italy face South Africa, Argentina and Fiji across four consecutive weeks, with the competition concluding on the weekend of 27–29 November to determine final standings.
"We know that major challenges await us this year, starting with the injuries to several players who are very important for our team," Quesada said in a federation statement. "But one year out from the Rugby World Cup, I also see these difficulties as a great opportunity to give playing time to some young players who represent the future of the national team. And, above all, to test our character by facing, for four consecutive weeks, four of the best teams in the world."
The former Argentina flyhalf will look to his younger squad members to fill the void as Italy prepare for a demanding schedule against top-tier opposition with the World Cup on the horizon.