Italy’s Martin Castrogiovanni to miss Scotland match as dog bites his nose

Martin Castrogiovanni looks set to miss Italy's Six Nations clash with Scotland after requiring 14 stitches when he was bitten on the nose by a friend's dog.

The 33-year-old tighthead prop, who has 109 international caps, has been left out of the Azzurri's provisional squad for the Murrayfield clash after what was described by Italy as a "minor household accident" and Wasps's Lorenzo Cittadini has been called up in his place.

Castrogiovanni made headlines in December after his foul-mouthed tirade towards Leicester's director of rugby, Richard Cockerill, but at least this time he can roll out the tried and tested excuse, 'the dog ate it' and mean it. The irony of his Twitter avatar will also be lost on very few.

Italy have made two other changes for Saturday's trip to Edinburgh with Antonio Pavanello included as cover for the second-row Marco Bortolami, whose fitness is being monitored, while Enrico Bacchin is also named after Wasps's Andrea Masi was sidelined by a cut suffered against Newcastle.

Guardian Services