New Italy coach Conor O'Shea won't be able to count on Andrea Masi

Italian back Andrea Masi has been forced to retire from rugby following medical advice on an Achilles tendon injury.

The 35-year old hobbled off against France at the World Cup last September and it proved to be his 95th and final appearance for The Azzurri.

Over his 19-year career, Masi represented L’Aquila, Viadana , Aironi, Racing 92, Biarritz and Wasps, playing over 275 games altogether.

On an international level, he covered all positions across the backline and was part of four World Cups. The highlight of his career came when he was nominated Six Nations Player of the Tournament in 2011, scoring a try against France in Italy’s historic win that year.

But he missed all of Wasps' Premiership and European campaigns last season.

“Rugby has been at the core of my life for the past 20 years, and it’s not easy to close such an important chapter of my life," Masi said told the Wasps website. “But I’m conscious that I need to follow expert medical advice and that this is the only possible way.

“Despite the recovery process progressing positively in the early stages, it didn’t heal as hoped and it became clear I wouldn’t be able to continue playing professional rugby. I’m satisfied that I made every possible effort to come back from the injury, but sadly it wasn’t to be.

“I’d like to thank Dai Young and all at Wasps for bringing me into their family four years ago, for believing in me and for staying by my side over the last, hard, 10 months: their loyalty and support is something I will never forget.

“I’d also like to wish, from the bottom of my heart, my thanks to the Italian team and to the head coaches who trusted in me over the years, giving me the privilege of representing my country in the Six Nations and in four Rugby World Cups. It was an unbelievable journey, an extraordinary honour.”

His retirement is an early blow to new Italy coach Conor O'Shea.