Italy lock Antonio Pavanello ended a three-year international exile when he came off the bench against England in the 2012 RBS 6 Nations and this year – and he wants his Treviso teammates to follow him into the Test arena.
Pavanello, 29, has ten caps to his name but, until this year, had never enjoyed an extended run in the Azzurri squad.
His first cap came against Argentina in Salta in 2005 but his selection to tour the Americas again was the first time an Italian head coach had stuck with Pavanello for more than two games.
As Jacques Brunel looks to build an international class squad, as well as a first team, to rival Europe’s more established rugby nations, Pavanello may find that his consistency is in high demand this season.
“For me it was very positive to enter into the Six Nations squad and for the summer tour as well so,” said Pavanello who captains Treviso.
“This season I have the opportunity to play matches with Treviso and to try and stay in the squad for the November Tests and for the next Six Nations.
“There are a lot of good players in the Treviso team. We are all in the same boat and there aren’t any special players who are much better than everyone else.
“All the Italian players that play for Treviso can go into the Italy squad I think.”
