Bortolami in Six Nations blow

From correspondents in Rome, Italy
January 23, 2008

ITALY'S Marco Bortolami will be out of action for six weeks, including the first three Six Nations games, after sustaining a facial injury playing for his club Gloucester.

The lock forward will miss the first three matches of the Six Nations tournament against Ireland in Dublin on February 2, in Rome against England on February 10 and then against Wales in Cardiff on February 23.

The player, who was injured around the eye during Gloucester's 29-21 win over Ulster in the European Cup at the weekend, had tests in Rome on Monday where the Italian team had gathered and two fractures were identified.

"The player will be out for at least six weeks,'' said Italy team doctor Gianluca Melegati, who added the player would not necessarily need surgery.

The absence of Bortolami, who was Italy captain at the World Cup before new coach Nick Mallett named Sergio Parisse as skipper for the Six Nations, is a huge blow to the squad as his name would be one of the first on the team sheet.

Agence France-Presse