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Italy have named their 22-man squad for the upcoming European Rugby League World Cup qualifiers with a number of stars featured.
Canberra Raiders legend Terry Campese headlines the side after he was forced to withdraw from the 2013 Rugby League World Cup, the five-eighth currently plying his trade for Hull KR.
Campese will take the duties of skipper from Mark Minichiello who has not been named.
Campese’s Robins teammate Josh Mantellato is one of nine 2013 squad members named including former NRL players Joel Riethmuller and Brenden Santi as well as Dean Parata, Christophe Calegari, Gavin Hiscox, Gioele Celerino, Ryan Tramonte and Chris Centrone.
Two domestic have also been named with Patrick Ziliotti (Brianza) and Guiseppe Pagani (Brescia) featuring.
In addition, the Azzurri have lured Italy rugby union legend Mirco Bergamasco.
Bergamasco has played 89 Tests for Italy including three world cups and spent the last year playing for Sacramento in the United States after leaving Pro12 outfit Zebre following two seasons at the club.
Italy will be coached by Cameron Ciraldo who has been lauded for his coaching skills with the Penrith Panthers NYC team having been to the last two grand finals, winning in 2015.
The Azzurri will first meet Serbia in Belgrade before hosting Wales in Monza.
Italian Squad: Dean Parata (Blacktown), Patrick Ziliotti (Brianza Tigers), Joel Riethmuller (Cairns Brothers), Joe Tramontana (Canterbury Bulldogs), Gavin Hiscox (Central Queensland Capras), Jayden Walker (Cronulla Sharks), Terry Campese, Josh Mantellato (Hull KR), Shannon Wakeman (Illawarra Cutters), Christophe Calegari (Lezignan Corbieres), Guiseppe Pagani (Lions Brescia), Gioele Celerino (Newcastle Thunder), Ryan Ghietti, Col Wilkie, Justin Castellaro (Northern Pride), Richard Lepori (Oldham Roughyeds), Chris Vitalani (South Wales Ironmen), Kieran Quabba, Brenden Santi (Townsville Blackhawks), Ryan Tramonte (Windsor Wolves), Chris Centrone (Wyong Roos), Mirco Bergamasco (unattached)
Elsewhere in Europe, Ukraine have been crowned European Championship C Championships after clean sweeping Czech Republic 2-0.
The Ukrainians opened the series back in June in front of 1,500 fans in Rivne with Nikolai Shalaiev bagging four tries to help his side to a 46-6 victory.
Making the trip to Havlickuv Brod, Ukraine stepped it up against the Czech Republic with a comprehensive 64-12 victory.
It comes after rugby league continues to grow strongly in the eastern European nation.
RC Legion XIII from Kharkiv won the Ukrainian Premier Rugby League a fortnight ago, claiming their eighth consecutive title with an 86-0 demolition of Lviv side RC Falcon.
Meanwhile, RC Kiev-Nüfusu defeated RC Korabel 46-12 for third place.
You can find Riley on Twitter @rileypettigrew
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