Italy prop Martin Castrogiovanni will miss the remainder of Italy's RBS 6 Nations campaign through injury.
The Leicester Tigers star sprained his right knee in the Azzurris historic 37-17 triumph against Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday.
Castrogiovanni was not included in coach Pierre Berbiziers squad for the game against Wales on March 10 at the Flaminio Stadium.
And on Wednesday the Italian Rugby Federation confirmed that he will also be unavailable for the final RBS 6 Nations encounter against Ireland one week later.
The 25-year-old is expected to be out of action for five to six weeks .
Berbizier will also have to do without injured duo Andrea Masi and Fabio Ongaro for the clash with Wales, and has called Ezio Galon, Fabio Staibano and Leonardo Ghiraldini into his 24-man squad as cover.