Former Kangaroos star Anthony Minichiello has been appointed as Italy’s assistant coach for the 2017 World Cup.

The former Sydney Roosters and NSW full-back, who won 19 caps for Australia but captained the Azzuri in the 2013 World Cup, will be right hand man to Cameron Ciraldo for the end-of-season tournament in Australia and New Zealand.

“I look forward to passing on my high performance knowledge to the wider group and having an influence over the team’s campaign at this year’s World Cup,” Minichiello, a veteran of 302 NRL games, said:

Minichiello’s younger brother Mark, the Hull second row forward, is expected to return for the 2017 tournament after missing the European qualifiers through injury.

Italy, who beat Wales and drew with quarter-finalists Scotland in the last World Cup, open their 2017 campaign against Ireland in Cairns on October 29 and also play group matches against the United States and Fiji.