Mauro Bergamasco is set to play in his fifth Rugby World Cup after being selected in Italy's 31-man squad for this year's tournament.

The 36-year-old flanker played a match at the 1999 tournament and has gone on to make 102 appearances for his country, featuring at all subsequent tournaments.

If he does play in England, Bergamasco will join Samoa's Brian Lima as one of only two men to play at five World Cups.

However, while one experienced figure stands on the brink of history, another has been left out altogether, with veteran lock Marco Bortolami – holder of 111 caps – failing to make the cut.

Robert Barbieri and Michele Visentin are the other players to miss out.

"Our goal, over the years, has always been to find the right balance for this team and the choices made ​​today ahead of the World Cup were made in this direction," said head coach Jacques Brunel. 

"Our ambition is to win qualification to the quarter-finals, beating the group stage for the first time in the history of Italian rugby, and on this objective we have focused our energies and directed our choices."

Italy kick off their campaign against France at Twickenham on September 9.

Squad in full:

Forwards: Matias Aguero, Martin Castrogiovanni, Dario Chistolini, Lorenzo Cittadini, Michele Rizzo, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Davide Giazzon, Andrea Manici, Valerio Bernabo, Joshua Furno, Marco Fuser, Quintin Geldenhuys, Mauro Bergamasco, Francesco Minto, Sergio Parisse, Samuela Vunisa, Alessandro Zanni.

Backs: Edoardo Gori, Guglielmo Palazzani, Marcello Violi, Tommaso Allan, Carlo Canna, Tommaso Benvenuti, Michele Campagnaro, Angelo Eesposito, Gonzalo Garcia, Andrea Masi, Luke McLean, Luca Morisi, Leonardo Sarto, Giovanbattista Venditti.