**There might be a heatwave across the British Isles but it is also heating up in Italy, where Franco Smith has been [appointed head coach](https://www.planetrugby.com/italy-confirm-franco-smith-as-full-time-head-coach/) of the national team.** Smith took over the Azzurri after the World Cup on a short-term deal and presided over their 2020 Six Nations campaign, where the coronavirus pandemic restricted them to just three of their five scheduled games. Italy lost all three but the Italian board have seen enough to hand Smith the job full-time. His first job will likely be the final two rounds of the Six Nations, with matches against Ireland and England to re-arrange. It was also announced Smith’s backroom team will be made up of Marius Goosen (assistant coach), with Giampiero De Carli (forwards coach), Alessandro Troncon (backs coach) and Quintin Kruger and Giovanni Sanguin (physical preparation). Smith’s contract will run through to the 2023 World Cup. Rugby is continuing to play its part in the fight against coronavirus and Glasgow Warriors’ player-coach Petrus du Plessis says he wouldn’t have been happy sitting at home after he joined the NHS. The 38-year-old left the heath service a decade ago and registered as a respiratory physiotherapist, working in neurology in Ayreshire. "It all comes back to you, all the stuff that you learned at university," Du Plessis told [BBC Radio Scotland](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/52851223).
