Llanos eligible to play for Italy
ROME, Italy -- Argentine-born second row Gaston Llanos has been cleared to play for Italy -- handing coach John Kirwan a major boost.
The ruling by the Italian Rugby Federation means that Llanos, who plays for Italian club Padova, will be eligible to face England in Italy's Six Nations opener in Rome on February 15.
He wIll become the latest player to benefit from a controversial rule-change that allows non-Italians, who have been resident in Italy for three years, to compete for the national team.
Fellow-Argentines Diego Dominguez and Ramiro Pez have already figured regularly in Kirwan's multi-national squad that also includes several New Zealanders and Romanians.
