The Italian rugby player Martin Castrogiovanni is set to miss this weekend's Six Nations match against Scotland at Murrayfield after being bitten on the nose by a dog.
The 33-year-old Toulon prop needed 14 stitches in a wound inflicted while playing with a friend's dog.
The Italian rugby federation said it was a "slight domestic incident".
Italy are bottom of the Six Nations table after losing 26-3 to Ireland in Rome and 47-17 to England at Twickenham in their first two matches.
Castrogiovanni, capped 109 times, was fined and given a suspended ban in December after a media rant against Leicester director of rugby Richard Cockerill.
The Argentine-born player, who spent seven seasons at Leicester, was upset with them for claiming he left Welford Road in 2013 for a pay rise.
Also this weekend France play Wales, while in the battle of the unbeaten sides Ireland play England.