Italy legend Sergio Parisse has confirmed he is available for the 2022 Guinness Six Nations and keen for one last hurrah in the Azzurri jersey.
Parisse has a strong case to be considered Italy’s greatest rugby player of all time – having been a stalwart of the back row since making his international debut back in 2002.
His 142 Test caps trail only Wales’s Alun Wyn Jones and New Zealand’s Richie McCaw in the all-time list, while he also played 69 Guinness Six Nations matches between 2004 and 2019.
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He was due to retire from international rugby after the 2019 World Cup but changed his mind when Italy’s final group game against the All Blacks was cancelled due to an incoming typhoon.
The coronavirus pandemic put paid to a scheduled farewell Test appearance against England in the 2020 Guinness Six Nations and Parisse has since announced he will retire from all forms of rugby at the end of the season.
But having recovered from a broken wrist that ruled him out of the Autumn Nations Series to return for club side Toulon in recent weeks, the 38-year-old has now explicitly stated his desire to be part of Azzurri coach Kieran Crowley’s plans for the 2022 Championship.
Speaking to Corriere dello Sport, Parisse said: “My availability is total. I hope to play, if they involve me.”
And he went on to tell La Gazzetta dello Sport: “My intention was to come back for Italy in 2021, but it went a different way because of things which are bigger than rugby.
“But I have never made a secret of my desire to pull on the blue jersey again, provided I am in the right condition.
“Have I spoken to Crowley? Yes, but everything still needs to be decided in more detail.”
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Parisse could make his international return when Italy begin their 2022 Guinness Six Nations campaign with a trip to France on February 6 before hosting England in Rome the following week.
Ireland in Dublin is their Round 3 fixture before games at home to Scotland and away to Wales finish off their Championship.
