6 Nations 2023. Martin Page-Riello, a real chance to play the World Cup with Italy?

several days ago, Martin Page Relo Live a daydream. Being able to train in contact with a national team. Not with the XV from France, but with a teamItaly. In fact, it’s half of Scrum Toulousewho will play next year in Lyon (signed a two-year contract), was called up by Squadra Azzurra in the last two days of 6 Nations Championship 2023.

His first choice, he will not know it on Saturday 11 March 2023 in a very decisive match: in fact, the loser from Italy and Wales, contested in Rome, will go straight to the wooden spoon. It will be watched from the stands by Big Rillo, after coach Kieran Crawley announced to the press that he would be staying with the group after a “very positive start” during the first few training sessions.

With Italy thanks to … his grandparents

But how did Gersu, who trained at Isle of Jordan, find himself in a position to join the Italian squad? Well, thanks to international rugby rules and… Maternal grandparents were born in Italy.

“When we found out he was eligible for the Italy national team, we decided to watch his matches. We decided to follow his selection to see how he could fit in, but also to evaluate him,” the New Zealand Italy coach acknowledged in the press, Kieran Crowley.

For Page-Relo, this is the first call-up within a national selection, since the one who arrived in Toulouse in 2012, spent a season on loan in Carcassonne (2020-2021), and has never known France’s youth teams. A case similar to that of Ange Capuozzo, who walked away from the youth tricolor selections, opting in 2018 for Italy. Today, the back of Toulouse is the pinnacle of Squadra Azzurra.

Very few from No. 9 in Italy

The main reason for calling Page-Relo Italy lies in a simple and clear note made by the Italian management: Very sparse pool in half scrum position. Recently, the 21-year-old Manfredi Albanese decided to quit rugby to focus on a career in business.

And Crowley to specify: “For the World Cup we have three scrum-halves: Stephen Varney, Alessandro Fusco and Alessando Garbisi. But if we have an injury before the competition, what are we going to do? We need other options.” Martin Page Relo One. And the first feedback on it is positive.

However, Toulouse is still far from passing the track. We understood this very well: at the moment he is moving forward in the hierarchy of Italy No. 9. And his attendance to World Cup 2023 In France it would be associated with a whole lot of circumstances. But you never know: In sports, anything is possible. And seeing him compete in the World Cup in France would be a fascinating story for the 24-year-old who has gained increasing confidence at Toulouse in recent weeks.

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