Mauro Bergamasco
Encyclopedia
Mauro Bergamasco is an Italian rugby union
footballer. He predominantly plays as an open-side flanker
, although his versatility means has also played a number of international games on the wing, and started at scrum-half in an infamously error-prone performance. He is considered to be one of Italy's best players being world class in his preferred position.
His younger brother Mirco
is also a professional rugby player. Both brothers are featured on the cover of the Italian version of the EA Sports
game Rugby 08
.
into a rugby family; his father Arturo
gained 4 caps for the Italian national side between 1973 and 1978 whilst his brother, Mirco
, has also won caps for the Italian national team
. Bergamasco cites his father as the main reason for his interest in rugby: as a young boy, he would accompany his father to the training sessions of rugby club Selvazzano, the team Arturo coached.
, before moving to Treviso
.
In 2003 he moved to France with his younger brother to play for Stade Français, reportedly negotiating a contract for his brother Mirco without telling him. The brothers went on to win two French championships.
and soon became a key member of the Italian squad.
In 2003, Italy's coach John Kirwan
deployed him as a winger, comparing his speed and physical stature with Jonah Lomu
. Bergamasco continued to insist his best position was on the flank, and later re-established himself in that position.
Bergamasco was banned for four weeks in 2007 for hitting Wales
fly half Stephen Jones
in a Six Nations
match and again for 13 weeks after gouging the eyes of Lee Byrne
in the corresponding fixture the following year.
For the 2009 Six Nations match against England, he was chosen to play at scrum-half thanks to three alternatives being injured, but was substituted at half time after a shocking performance, regarded as one of the worst by a player in international rugby, in which his mistakes directly led to three England tries. He was returned to his normal starting position at flanker for the following week's fixture against Ireland.
He missed the 2011 Six Nations Championship
due to a injury but was called for the 2011 Churchill Cup
to the experienced Italy A
, as a preparation for the upcoming 2011 Rugby World Cup
. Italy A would finish in 3rd place.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
footballer. He predominantly plays as an open-side flanker
Flanker (rugby union)
A flanker is a position in the sport of rugby union. Flankers play in the forwards, and are generally classified as either blindside, or openside flankers; numbers six and seven respectively. The name comes from their position in a scrum in which they flank each set of forwards...
, although his versatility means has also played a number of international games on the wing, and started at scrum-half in an infamously error-prone performance. He is considered to be one of Italy's best players being world class in his preferred position.
His younger brother Mirco
Mirco Bergamasco
Mirco Bergamasco is an Italian rugby union footballer. He primarily plays centre, presently with Parisian club Racing Métro in the French Top 14, and internationally with Italy...
is also a professional rugby player. Both brothers are featured on the cover of the Italian version of the EA Sports
EA Sports
EA Sports is a brand of Electronic Arts that creates and develops sports video games. Formerly a marketing gimmick of Electronic Arts, in which they tried to mimic real-life sports networks by calling themselves "EA Sports Network" with pictures or endorsements of real commentators such as John...
game Rugby 08
Rugby 08
Rugby 08 is the 2007 release in the Rugby series by EA Sports. The game allows players to play as many Rugby nations, both major and minor, and includes many tournaments, such as the Rugby World Cup, Tri Nations, Six Nations, Guinness Premiership and Super 14.Rugby 08 was released prior to the...
.
Early life
Mauro Bergamasco was born in PaduaPadua
Padua is a city and comune in the Veneto, northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Padua and the economic and communications hub of the area. Padua's population is 212,500 . The city is sometimes included, with Venice and Treviso, in the Padua-Treviso-Venice Metropolitan Area, having...
into a rugby family; his father Arturo
Arturo Bergamasco
Arturo Bergamasco was an Italian rugby union footballer. He played as an open-side flanker.He played for Rovigo and Petrarca witch he won two Italian championship...
gained 4 caps for the Italian national side between 1973 and 1978 whilst his brother, Mirco
Mirco Bergamasco
Mirco Bergamasco is an Italian rugby union footballer. He primarily plays centre, presently with Parisian club Racing Métro in the French Top 14, and internationally with Italy...
, has also won caps for the Italian national team
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,...
. Bergamasco cites his father as the main reason for his interest in rugby: as a young boy, he would accompany his father to the training sessions of rugby club Selvazzano, the team Arturo coached.
Playing career
Bergamasco began his playing career with Petrarca PadovaPetrarca Padova
Petrarca Padova Rugby is an Italian rugby union club currently competing in Super 10. They are based in Padua in Veneto. They were founded in 1947 by Pine Bonaiti, Lalo Santini and Gastone Munaron near the University College Antonianum...
, before moving to Treviso
Benetton Rugby Treviso
Benetton Rugby Treviso are an Italian professional rugby union club currently competing in the RaboDirect Pro12 and the Heineken Cup.They are based in Treviso in Veneto, and owned by the Benetton clothing company....
.
In 2003 he moved to France with his younger brother to play for Stade Français, reportedly negotiating a contract for his brother Mirco without telling him. The brothers went on to win two French championships.
International career
He made his international debut at the age of 19 against the NetherlandsNetherlands national rugby union team
The Netherlands national rugby union team are a national sporting side of the Netherlands, representing them at rugby union. The side first played in 1930.-History:...
and soon became a key member of the Italian squad.
In 2003, Italy's coach John Kirwan
John Kirwan (rugby player)
John James Patrick Kirwan, ONZM, MBE is a New Zealand rugby union footballer, and former All Black, turned coach. With 35 tries in 63 tests for the All Blacks, Kirwan appears on the list of the highest try scorers in Rugby Union history....
deployed him as a winger, comparing his speed and physical stature with Jonah Lomu
Jonah Lomu
Jonah Tali Lomu, MNZM is a New Zealand rugby union player. He had sixty-three caps as an All Black after debuting in 1994. He is generally regarded as the first true global superstar of rugby union. He has had a huge impact on the game...
. Bergamasco continued to insist his best position was on the flank, and later re-established himself in that position.
Bergamasco was banned for four weeks in 2007 for hitting Wales
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
fly half Stephen Jones
Stephen Jones (rugby player)
Stephen Michael Jones is a Welsh international rugby union player who plays primarily at fly-half for Wales, the British and Irish Lions and Scarlets....
in a Six Nations
Six Nations Championship
The Six Nations Championship is an annual international rugby union competition involving six European sides: England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....
match and again for 13 weeks after gouging the eyes of Lee Byrne
Lee Byrne
Lee Martin Byrne is a Welsh international rugby union rugby player, who plays for ASM Clermont Auvergne in the Top 14 and Heineken Cup...
in the corresponding fixture the following year.
For the 2009 Six Nations match against England, he was chosen to play at scrum-half thanks to three alternatives being injured, but was substituted at half time after a shocking performance, regarded as one of the worst by a player in international rugby, in which his mistakes directly led to three England tries. He was returned to his normal starting position at flanker for the following week's fixture against Ireland.
He missed the 2011 Six Nations Championship
2011 Six Nations Championship
The 2011 Six Nations Championship, known as the 2011 RBS 6 Nations due to the tournament's sponsorship by the Royal Bank of Scotland, was the 12th series of the Six Nations Championship. The annual northern hemisphere rugby union championship was contested by England, France, Ireland, Italy,...
due to a injury but was called for the 2011 Churchill Cup
2011 Churchill Cup
The 2011 Churchill Cup, the ninth edition of an annual international rugby union tournament, took place in Northampton, Esher, Gloucester and Worcester...
to the experienced Italy A
Italy A national rugby union team
The Italy A national rugby union team are the second national rugby union team in Italy after the national side. They compete every year in the IRB Nations Cup.-Fixtures:IRB Nations Cup 2010...
, as a preparation for the upcoming 2011 Rugby World Cup
2011 Rugby World Cup
The 2011 Rugby World Cup was the seventh Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. The International Rugby Board selected New Zealand as the host country in preference to Japan and South Africa at a meeting in Dublin on 17 November 2005...
. Italy A would finish in 3rd place.
External links
- RBS 6 Nations profile
- "IRB RWC 2003" Mauro Bergamasco profile
- "Mauro the Jewel" The Observer 9 March 2003
- "Welsh Rugby Union: Meet The Italians"
- "Stade Français website" Mauro Bergamasco Club Profile – in French
- "Ireland.com" Italian Team Profile