Quesada Blames Relentless Calendar as Italy's Injury List Grows Before November Tests

Italy coach Gonzalo Quesada has pointed the finger at rugby's crowded calendar as his injury-hit squad prepares for November's Nations Championship fixtures. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Quesada said players now play for almost ten and a half months a year without a proper regeneration cycle, and warned that bodies eventually force players to respect recovery whether the schedule does or not.

The numbers behind his frustration are stark. When Quesada announced his squad last week, 13 players were already unavailable, including centre Tommaso Menoncello and flanker Sebastian Negri. Since then, captain Michele Lamaro, centre Juan Ignacio Brex and winger Louis Lynagh have joined the list of latest injury absentees, leaving Italy short of experience and leadership ahead of home fixtures against South Africa, Argentina and Fiji.

There is at least some hope in the form of Tommaso Allan. Italy's most experienced fly-half is in the squad but is recovering from injury and has yet to take part in training, with Quesada saying he is being assessed as a potential member of the matchday squad. In normal circumstances, the coach admitted, a player only returning to training in the same week as a match would generally never be selected — but the lack of options may force his hand. Italy lost all three of their July matches, against Japan, New Zealand and Australia, and next month brings home advantage but little relief.