Veteran flanker Mauro Bergamasco is adamant that the blue of Italy’s national jersey still suits him but admits that he must show his stripes with the Zebre first if he wants to break back into the Azzurri first XV.
For more than a decade openside Bergamasco was the cornerstone of the Italian pack as his pace regularly put his team on the front foot in Italy’s early days in RBS 6 Nations.
His memorable try against Scotland in the 2001 Championship announced him as a world class operator but owing to a shoulder injury, and competition for places in head coach Jacques Brunel’s squad, he only made one appearance in the 2012 RBS 6 Nations against England.
But the 33-year-old feels he still has a lot more to offer to his country and has set his sights on playing in the 2015 World Cup in England.
Should he achieve his goal it would be the fifth time Bergamasco has played at a World Cup, his first coming in the 1999 edition, but first and foremost he insists he must help new club Zebre get off to a flying start in the Pro 12.
“These are the last years of my career and here at the Zebre I’ve found the right stimulus to keep on giving my all,” said Bergamasco, who has 92 Test caps to his name.
“I want to continue to enjoy playing at a high level and here I’m doing that.
“I want to continue to be useful to the national team too – that is something I strive for.
“The idea of going to the World Cup in England is there. I believe I can compete to be part of the squad that will go and this is an objective which really appeals to me.
“There’s more than three years to go but the path starts with the Zebre.”
