ITALY is set to introduce an age limit of 20 for first division rugby, after a 17-year-old narrowly avoided paralysis at the weekend. Massimiliano Sicali, a hooker with Amatori Catania, suffered neck injuries in a scrum after just three minutes of their Serie A-1 match at Rovigo on Sunday.

The incident has sent a shockwave through Italian rugby. Rugby federation president Giancarlo Dondi said: "We must have an age limit to avoid any accidents which could have devastating consequences for anyone in the front row."