Massimo Giovanelli
Encyclopedia
Massimo Giovanelli is a former Italian rugby union player. He played as a flanker. He was one of the best Italian rugby players of his generation.
Giovanelli started his career at his local team of Rugby Noceto Football Club, being promoted to the first category in 1984. He would play there until 1990/91, moving then to Amatori Rugby Milano
, which he represented from 1991/92 to 1996/97. It was the most successful time of his career, winning three Italian Championship titles, in 1992/93, 1994/95 and 1995/96 and one Cup of Italy, in 1994/95. He moved to France
in 1997, where he would play for Paris Université Club Rugby during one season, moving then to RC Narbonne
, where he would stay for the season of 1998/99. Giovanelli returned to Italy, playing then for Rugby Rovigo
(1999/2000). He left competition for some years due to a eye problem, but returned for a final spell with Rugby Colomo, where he would play from 2003/04 to 2006/07, finishing his career aged 40.
Giovanelli had 60 caps for Italy
, from 1989 to 2000, scoring 4 tries, 19 points in aggregate. He was the captain for 37 caps. His first game was at 30 September 1989, in the 33-9 win over Zimbabwe
, in Treviso
, in a friendly match, aged 22 years old. He was selected for three Rugby World Cup
finals, playing 2 times at the 1991 Rugby World Cup
, never being capped at the 1995 Rugby World Cup
and playing three times at the 1999 Rugby World Cup
. He was also the captain of Italy in this last presence. He had his last cap for the National Team during his sole presence at the 2000 Six Nations Championship
, at 5 February 2000, in the 34-20 win over Scotland
, in Rome
, that marked his country debut at the competition. His eye injury forced him to leave the national team afterwards.
He was inducted at the World Rugby Museum Wall of Fame
in Twickenham
in 17 February 2001.
He also graduated in architecture in 2003.
Giovanelli started his career at his local team of Rugby Noceto Football Club, being promoted to the first category in 1984. He would play there until 1990/91, moving then to Amatori Rugby Milano
Amatori Rugby Milano
Amatori Rugby Milano are an Italian rugby union team based in Milan that currently play in Serie A1 ....
, which he represented from 1991/92 to 1996/97. It was the most successful time of his career, winning three Italian Championship titles, in 1992/93, 1994/95 and 1995/96 and one Cup of Italy, in 1994/95. He moved to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in 1997, where he would play for Paris Université Club Rugby during one season, moving then to RC Narbonne
RC Narbonne
Racing Club de Narbonne Méditerannée is a French rugby union club that play in the second-level Rugby Pro D2, after finishing at the bottom of the 2006-07 Top 14 table....
, where he would stay for the season of 1998/99. Giovanelli returned to Italy, playing then for Rugby Rovigo
Rugby Rovigo
Rugby Rovigo Delta are an Italian rugby union club currently competing in Super 10.They are based in Rovigo in Veneto....
(1999/2000). He left competition for some years due to a eye problem, but returned for a final spell with Rugby Colomo, where he would play from 2003/04 to 2006/07, finishing his career aged 40.
Giovanelli had 60 caps for Italy
Italy national rugby union team
The Italy national rugby union team represent the nation of Italy in the sport of rugby union. The team is also known as the Azzurri . Italy have been playing international rugby since the late 1920s, and since 2000 compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland,...
, from 1989 to 2000, scoring 4 tries, 19 points in aggregate. He was the captain for 37 caps. His first game was at 30 September 1989, in the 33-9 win over Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe national rugby union team
The Zimbabwe national rugby union team is the rugby union team representing Zimbabwe. They are considered to be a third tier rugby union nation...
, in Treviso
Treviso
Treviso is a city and comune in Veneto, northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Treviso and the municipality has 82,854 inhabitants : some 3,000 live within the Venetian walls or in the historical and monumental center, some 80,000 live in the urban center proper, while the city...
, in a friendly match, aged 22 years old. He was selected for three Rugby World Cup
Rugby World Cup
The Rugby World Cup is an international rugby union competition organised by the International Rugby Board and held every four years since 1987....
finals, playing 2 times at the 1991 Rugby World Cup
1991 Rugby World Cup
The 1991 Rugby World Cup was the second edition of the Rugby World Cup, and was jointly hosted by England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and France; at that time, the five European countries that participated in the Five Nations Championship making it the first Rugby World Cup to be staged in the...
, never being capped at the 1995 Rugby World Cup
1995 Rugby World Cup
The 1995 Rugby World Cup was the third Rugby World Cup. It was hosted and won by South Africa, and was the first Rugby World Cup in which every match was held in one country....
and playing three times at the 1999 Rugby World Cup
1999 Rugby World Cup
The 1999 Rugby World Cup was the fourth Rugby World Cup, and the first to be held in rugby union's professional era. The principal host nation was Wales, although the majority of matches were played outside the country, shared between England, France, Scotland and Ireland...
. He was also the captain of Italy in this last presence. He had his last cap for the National Team during his sole presence at the 2000 Six Nations Championship
2000 Six Nations Championship
The 2000 Six Nations Championship was the first series of the Six Nations Championship, following the inclusion of Italy into the Five Nations championship. Including the previous incarnations as the Home Nations and Five Nations, this was the hundred-and-sixth series of the northern hemisphere...
, at 5 February 2000, in the 34-20 win over Scotland
Scotland national rugby union team
The Scotland national rugby union team represent Scotland in international rugby union. Rugby union in Scotland is administered by the Scottish Rugby Union. The Scotland rugby union team is currently ranked eighth in the IRB World Rankings as of 19 September 2011...
, in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, that marked his country debut at the competition. His eye injury forced him to leave the national team afterwards.
He was inducted at the World Rugby Museum Wall of Fame
World Rugby Museum Wall of Fame
The World Rugby Museum Wall of Fame , not to be confused with the IRB Hall of Fame, was opened at the World Rugby Museum by Martin Johnson on 3rd June 2005 as a celebration of the best players from all over the world that have played at Twickenham Stadium...
in Twickenham
Twickenham Stadium
Twickenham Stadium is a stadium located in Twickenham, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is the largest rugby union stadium in the United Kingdom and has recently been enlarged to seat 82,000...
in 17 February 2001.
He also graduated in architecture in 2003.