Former NRL star Craig Gower says his move to France and upcoming rugby union Test debut with Italy have given him a new lease of life.

Gower - who qualifies for Italy through an Italian grandfather - will play his first Test against the Wallabies in Canberra on June 13 and another in Melbourne a week later.

While he speaks just a few words of Italian, Gower said representing Italy had been in his thinking since he left Australia in 2007 to switch codes and join French club Bayonne.

"It was in the back of my mind but obviously I'd just changed codes and I had to make sure that I (successfully) made that transition from playing league to union," he said.

Gower's career in Australia was spiced with controversial off-field incidents.

Most notably, at a charity golf event at the end of 2005 he groped the teenage daughter of league legend Wayne Pearce, costing himself the Penrith captaincy and a $30,000 fine.

But Gower said it was a desire for new challenges, rather than to escape the spotlight at home, that lured him overseas.

"I experienced all the highs in the league, I represented Australia, I captained Australia, I won a premiership, I captained a premiership, there wasn't much more to do," he said on Friday after training with the Italian team in Melbourne.

"Obviously this is the next challenge for me and I think this has been the best move for me.

"It's refreshed me right up and it's given me a new lease of life."

With fellow stars Sonny Bill Williams and Mark Gasnier having also moved from the NRL to club rugby in France, Gower said it was a path that opened many more doors.

"Rugby is a world game and league is not, it's as simple as that," he said.

"It opens up different dimensions and if guys want to take that path then good luck to them.

"But obviously rugby league is rugby league, it's a fantastic game in Australia but that's pretty much where it goes."

Gower was uncertain how much impact he could have in his debut international series as he learns to gel with his teammates.

But despite Italy's poor recent form - no wins from eight matches so far this year - he said an upset victory was possible.

"In any game if you get 15 guys out there willing to put in the effort and just to come up trumps, these days anyone can win," he said.

Asked whether he felt at all Italian, Gower said he had recently built an appreciation of that part of his heritage.

"I went and visited my grandfather's family last year and it was fantastic because I had never really got to see that side of the family," he said.

"Now that I have, I'm very proud of my grandfather's heritage and I'm looking forward to honouring his family by playing for Italy."

Italy coach Nick Mallett was looking forward to seeing how Gower slotted in to what has been a trouble spot for the team - the halves.

"It's the quality of the decision-making at nine and 10 that defines whether you are a good attacking team or not," he said.

"Italy has struggled over the last five years to find a No.9 and No.10 really since Alessandro Troncon and Diego Dominguez retired, there hasn't been anyone who's really nailed down those two positions.

"While we're looking for someone who can control those positions, this is an opportunity on this tour for Craig to do that."

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