LONGTIME Windsor Wolves player has been picked in the Italian Rugby League squad, which will aim to qualify for the 2017 Rugby league world cup over the next few weeks.
Tramonte’s father is Italian, which qualifies the prop forward for the team.
It will not be the first time Tramonte has pulled on the Italian blue.
He played for Italy during the 2013 World Cup, alongside NRl players Anthony Minichello, his brother Mark, James Tedesco, Terry Campese and Paul Vaughan.
This time around, Terry Campese is the big name player in the squad.
Tramonte and his team mates will play against Serbia and Wales, and potentially play a third game, in order to qualify for the world cup.
It was an awesome feeling. It was such a privilege to play in the last world cup.
- Ryan Tramonte
Tramonte said it was a surprising honour to be selected, because at age 34 he was not getting any younger.
“I am really looking forward to it, representing my country and heritage,” he said.
“It was definitely a surprise. I’m 34 and a lot of the guys in the team are younger blokes.”
Despite a tough season for the Windsor Wolves this year, Tramonte said he was in good form toward the end of the season and would head into the cup injury free.
The forward, who last year played his 200th game for the Wolves, said 2013 was one of the best experiences of his life.
“The boys were good company, and playing professionally and training every day, being in that environment was great,” he said.
“It was a bit depressing to come back to reality to be honest with you.”
The Italians will first travel to play Serbia, and then host Wales.
If they win those games they will qualify for the world cup, which runs until December 2.
The first world cup match will be played between Australia and England on Friday, October 27.
