Martin Castrogiovanni will miss the remainder of Italy's Six Nations campaign with a knee injury. The destructive Leicester prop sprained his right knee in the Azzurri's historic 37-17 triumph against Scotland.
Castrogiovanni 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 that 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.