Parisse has surgery on leg problem

Editor

Italy are sweating over the fitness of talismanic skipper Sergio Parisse, who required surgical intervention on his leg.

The Azzurri skipper suffered a knock during Saturday's loss to Wales, which also saw Leigh Halfpenny and Rhys Webb pick up long-term injuries that will keep them out of the World Cup.

As a result, he had a haematoma on his left leg drained on Monday evening in Paris to ease the pain.

The FIR will release a statement on his timetable to return in the next few days, but Jacques Brunel will be desperate to get his best player back as soon as possible.

Italy open their World Cup campaign against France on September 19 at Twickenham, with that clash crucial to their hopes of reaching the quarter-finals for the first time in their history.

Meanwhile medical reports on centres Luca Morisi and Gonzalo Garcia, who both had to come off against Wales, will be released on Wednesday.