Six Nations News: Italy prop Martin Castrogiovanni will miss the remainder of his country's Six Nations campaign through injury. The Leicester Tigers star sprained his right knee in the Azzurri's 37-17 triumph against Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday.
Castrogiovanni, who caused no end of problems for Munster in the scrums during Leicester's win at Thomond Park, was not included in coach Pierre Berbizier's squad for the game against Wales on March 10th at the Flaminio Stadium.
And today the Italian Rugby Federation confirmed he will also be unavailable for the final Six Nations encounter against Ireland a week later. The 25-year-old is expected to be out of action for five to six weeks.
Berbizier will also have to do without injured duo Andrea Masi and Fabio Ongaro for the clash with Wales, and has called Ezio Galon, Fabio Staibano and Leonardo Ghiraldini into his 24-man squad as cover.
England winger Jason Robinson has been told he will not need surgery on the neck injury which kept him out of the record defeat to Ireland last weekend.
Robinson saw a specialist last night who advised him to rest for a few days to let the neck pain settle down, meaning he could be in contention for England's game with France at Twickenham on March 11th.
Meanwhile, Nigel Whitehouse yesterday announced his retirement from the international refereeing scene.
Whitehouse, who was touch judge for last weekend's Ireland versus England match at Croke Park, has stood down in order to concentrate on his career as a police inspector.
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