French centre Marsh in training after chemotherapy

By IAN BORTHWICK

French centre Tony Marsh has started light training three weeks after the end of his chemotherapy treatment in a Lyon hospital.

The New Zealander, who missed the Six Nations Championship with a groin injury before being diagnosed with cancer in March, aims to make the French World Cup squad.

French coach Bernard Laporte still considers the former Counties player as first-choice centre for France and will keep a place open for him in the Tricolors' backline as long as possible.

Consequently, with an eye to being included in the French World Cup training camps at the beginning of August, Marsh has set himself a deadline of July to get fit again.

The 30-year-old former policeman, who came to France in 1998 after winning the Super 12 with the Crusaders, says he has suffered little from the cancer treatment and he has retained his playing weight of 97kg.

"I haven't started running again yet, but should be getting into it in a week or two," he said from Clermont-Ferrand.

Specialists in Lyon have told him that there was no medical reason for him not to resume training, albeit without contact for the time being.

"My objective is to get fit again as soon as possible, and then to be able to train at 100 per cent through July," he said.

Meanwhile, Italy coach John Kirwan has included two new faces in his 30-man squad to tour New Zealand this month.

Calvisano first five-eighths Vincenzo Zullo and Overmach Parma prop Matteo Gennari receive their first call-ups for the Azzurri, who will play five matches in 15 days as they begin preparations for the World Cup in Australia.

Treviso prop Ramiro Martinez misses out because of injury, while Calvisano winger Massimo Ravazzolo earns a recall.

The Italian tour starts with a game against Southland at Invercargill on June 14 and continues with games against Counties Manukau, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki and finishes against NPC first division finalists Waikato in Hamilton on June 28.Italian tour squad:

Backs: Gert Peens (Overmach Parma), Massimo Ravazzolo (Calvisano), Denis Dallan (Treviso), Mauro Bergamasco (Treviso), Diego Sacca (Gran Parma), Cristian Zanoletti (Calvisano), Nanni Raineri (Calvisano), Andrea Masi (Conad LAquila), Alex Stoica (Castres/FRA), Ramiro Pez (Rotherham/ENG), Vincenzo Zullo (Calvisano), Alessandro Troncon (Treviso), Manuel Queirolo (Dax/FRA) Matteo Mazzantini (Rovigo).

Forwards: Salvatore Garozzo (Treviso), Andrea Benatti (Viadana), Aaron Persico (Viadana), Matthew Phillips (Viadana), Scott Palmer (Treviso), Marco Bortolami (Petrarca), Cristian Bezzi (Viadana), Mark Giacheri (Rotherham/ENG) Enrico Pavanello (Treviso), Santiago Dallape (Treviso), Andrea Locicero (Lazio & Primavera), Salvatore Perugini (Calvisano), Leandro Castrogiovanni (Calvisano), Matteo Gennari (Overmach Parma), Carlo Festuccia (Gran Parma), Fabio Ongaro (Treviso).