Injured Parisse will still tour

Italy captain Sergio Parisse will make his country's tour with hopes high he will recover from his thigh injury to be fit enough to play the second Test against Canada, the Italian rugby federation said on Tuesday.

Parisse's club Stade Francais announced shortly after the squad was named on Monday that the No.8 had had to pull out because of a right thigh injury he suffered in his club's final match of the season.

But a federation spokesman said Parisse would indeed be on the plane for the tour that sees Italy play against Argentina in San Juan on June 9, Canada in Toronto on June 15, and the United States in Houston on June 23.

"There's no problem, Parisse's coming with us," the spokesman said.

"We'll evaluate his injury when we get together on Sunday, but he could maybe be fit for the match against Canada, and in any case for the United States.

"He's the captain, it's important that he accompanies this young touring squad, we need his charisma."

AFP