Italy head coach Jacques Brunel has some unhappy players ahead of the World Cup.

Italian players have refused to take part in the first training session ahead of the Rugby World Cup in a row over pay.

Forty players gathered near the northern town of Bolzano for a three-week training camp with some big names absent - like No 8 captain Sergio Parisse and prop Martin Castrogiovanni - due to club commitments.

The Italian rugby federation said it had "taken note" of the players' decision "to neither take part in training nor wear federation kit before a financial agreement is found over participation in summer training and the World Cup".

The players are seekeing a match-by-match bonus for the World Cup in England instead of a one-off payment linked to their performances, which the ruling body wants.

Italy, coached by Frenchman Jacques Brunel, have further training camps in July and August and will play two pre-World Cup tests against Scotland and one against Wales in late August and early September.

The Italians are in a tough group at the World Cup - Pool D - alongside European big guns Ireland and France as well as Canada and Romania.

- Agencies