EXPERIENCED Keighley Cougars forward Brenden Santi has been named in Italy's squad for the World Cup.

The 29-year-old was born in Sydney, but his of Italian descent.

He began his senior career in his native Australia, at NRL side Wests Tigers.

After leaving the club at the end of 2015, he spent another couple of years playing rugby league in Australia outside of the NRL, during which time he represented Italy at the 2017 World Cup.

He moved to the other side of the world to join Toulouse Olympique for 2019, and was at Newcastle for 2020 before signing for Cougars ahead of the 2021 campaign.

Italy are in Group B of this year's World Cup, alongside Australia, Fiji and Scotland.

ITALY SQUAD FOR UPCOMING RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP:

Daniel Atkinson (Sunshine Coast Falcons)

Nathan Brown (Parramatta Eels)

Joey Tramontana (Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles)

Cooper Johns (Melbourne Storm)

Ryan King (Whitehaven)

Jake Maizen (Sunshine Coast Falcons)

Luca Moretti (Parramatta Eels)

Luke Polselli (Sunshine Coast Falcons)

Jack Campagnolo (South Sydney Rabbitohs)

Alec Susino (Penrith Panthers)

Luke Hodge (Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles)

Kyle Pickering (Cronulla Sharks)

Jack Colovatti (Parramatta Eels)

Ethan Natoli (Newtown Jets)

Rinaldo Palumbo (London Broncos)

Nicholas Tilburg (Wentworthville Magpies)

Gieole Celerino (Racing Saint Gaudens)

Simone Boscolo (RC Salon XIII)

Giordano Arena (Catania Bulls)

Ippolito Occhialini (Lignano Sharks)

Alex Rojatto (Lignano Sharks)

Dean Parata (London Broncos)

Brendan Santi (Keighley)

Anton Iaria (Barrow)

Richard Lepori (Swinton)