Rugby, Parisse not called up by Italy for the World Cup: because he deserves it – Corriere.it

46 players have been called up for the first training session for the Rugby World Cup which will be played in France in the autumn. Sergio Parisse is not among the 46, who will turn 40 on 12 September. That said, it seems difficult to blame the coach Kieran Crowley: 40 years is a long time, but there’s a per. P
arisse is still playing in the Top14 with Toulon and, just to make it clear, he was on the field in the European semi-final between the French and Benetton Treviso, a club for which more than half the national team plays.

Parisse’s team won that game 23-0. Sergio is no longer the phenomenon he once was, but that you don’t find a place in a group of 46 called up that is not very credible. That wasn’t enough, Parisse has played 142 times for Italy, was captain for 10 years and is passionate about the blue. He does not claim a starting position, he would like to be there: to play a sixth World Cup (that would be a record) and put on that shirt he adores once again, even for a short while.