Former Italy captain Marco Bortolami has been ruled out for six weeks with two facial fractures and will miss a large part of the Six Nations, including their opening game against Ireland at Croke Park.

"The player will have to rest for a period not less than six weeks," team doctor Gianluca Melegati told the Italian Rugby Federation website ( www.federugby.it). "Bortolami will have 10 days of total rest and then gradually resume training."
 
"The secondrow from Padoa will be able to return completely to rugby activity from the second half of February."
   
Bortolami was captain during last year's World Cup when they went out in the pool stage and was injured playing for club side Gloucester against Ulster in the Heineken Cup last weekend.
   
New coach Nick Mallett decided on Friday to appoint Sergio Parisse as captain in place of Bortolami, but news of his injury is still a big blow to the Italians, who registered their best ever Six Nations showing last year with two victories.
   
Italy start their Six Nations campaign in Dublin on Saturday, February 2nd with their last match at home to Scotland on March 15th.