Rugby-Two additions to Italy squad for France clash


Rugby Union - Autumn Internationals - Italy v New Zealand - Allianz Stadium, Turin, Italy - November 23, 2024 Italy's Martin Page-Relo during the warm up before the match REUTERS/Massimo Pinca/File Photo

ROME, Feb 16 (Reuters) - ⁠Italy have added two players to ⁠their squad for Sunday's Six Nations clash ‌against France, but scrumhalf Stephen Varney has not recovered from injury and pulled out of the trip.

Martin ​Page-Relo returns to the squad ⁠after injury ruled him ⁠out of their opening two matches in this ⁠year's ‌competition against Scotland and Ireland, replacing Varney.

Centre Giulio Bertaccini is the ⁠other player returning for the clash in ​Lille, as ‌Juan Ignacio Brex has not rejoined ⁠the team ​after asking to be released from the squad for last weekend's Ireland trip for undisclosed ⁠personal reasons.

Varney had been part ​of the squad over the last fortnight but trained apart as he looked to recover from ⁠an adductor injury.

"The Exeter scrumhalf has not fully recovered and will not be available for the match against France," said a ​statement from the Italian Rugby ⁠Federation.

"The player has returned to his club ​to continue his rehabilitation in ‌collaboration with the Italy ​medical staff," it added.

(Writing by Mark Gleeson in Cape Town;Editing by Christian Radnedge)

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