Rugby World Cup 2015: Italy's Sergio Parisse to miss opener

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Italy captain Sergio ParisseImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Sergio Parisse suffered a calf injury in the warm-up defeat to Wales

Rugby World Cup

Hosts: England and Wales. Dates: 18 September-31 October

Coverage: Live commentary on BBC Radio 5 live and sports extra, BBC Radio Wales and in Welsh on BBC Radio Cymru, plus live text commentary on every match on the BBC Sport website.

Italy captain Sergio Parisse will miss his country's opening Rugby World Cup game against France next weekend.

The Argentina-born number eight, 31, has not fully recovered from surgery to drain a haematoma - an injury sustained in Italy's 23-19 World Cup warm-up defeat by Wales last weekend.

Parisse was operated upon on Monday but team manager Luigi Troiani confirmed he will be unavailable at Twickenham.

"We hope he will recover for the [next] match with Canada," said Troiani.

The haematoma, a swelling of clotted blood, developed in Parisse's left calf after the match in Cardiff.

The news comes as a blow to the Italians' chances against France, with their captain widely considered to be their best player.

He has won 113 international caps and played at the last three Rugby World Cups.

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