Back-row forward Samuela Vunisa has been selected to represent Italy in the Rugby World Cup.

He was named in Italy’s 31 man squad for Rugby World Cup yesterday.

The 26‑year‑old played for the Fiji under 19 and under 20 teams.

Vunisa who is originally from Vunitogoloa, Rakiraki currently plays for the Saracens in the Aviva Premiership.

His professional career began in 2009 where he played for Taranaki in the ITM Cup.

Italy is pooled with France, Ireland, Canada and Romania.

Forward : Leonardo Ghiraldini (Leicester), Davide Giazzon (Treviso), Andrea Manici (Zebre); Matias Aguero (unattached), Martin Castrogiovanni (Racing 92), Dario Chistolini (Zebre), Lorenzo Cittadini (Wasps), Michele Rizzo (Leicester); Valerio Bernabo (Zebre), Joshua Furno (Newcastle), Marco Fuser (Treviso), Quintin Geldenhuys (Zebre); Mauro Bergamasco (unattached), Francesco Minto (Treviso), Sergio Parisse (captain, Stade Francais), Samuela Vunisa (Saracens), Alessandro Zanni (Treviso).

Backs: Edoardo Gori (Treviso), Guglielmo Palazzani (Zebre), Marcello Violi (Zebre); Tommaso Allan (Perpignan), Carlo Canna (Zebre); Tommaso Benvenuti (Bristol), Michele Campagnaro (Exeter), Gonzalo Garcia (Zebre), Luca Morisi (Treviso); Angelo Esposito (Treviso), Leonardo Sarto (Zebre), Giovanbattista Venditti (Newcastle); Andrea Masi (Wasps), Luke McLean (Treviso).