Mauro Bergamasco

Mauro Bergamasco

Mauro Bergamasco for Stade Français
Full name	Mauro Bergamasco
Date of birth	1 May 1979 (1979-05-01) (age 32)
Place of birth	Padua, Italy
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight	98 kg (15 st 6 lb)
Notable relative(s)	Arturo Bergamasco (father) Mirco Bergamasco (brother)
Occupation(s)	Professional rugby union footballer
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position	Openside flanker
Professional / senior clubs
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
1998–2000 2000–2003 2003–2011	Petrarca Treviso Stade Français
National team(s)
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
1998–	Italy	79	(70)

Mauro Bergamasco (born 1 May 1979) 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.

Early life

Mauro Bergamasco was born in Padua 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.

Playing career

Bergamasco began his playing career with Petrarca Padova, 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.^[1] The brothers went on to win two French championships.

International career

He made his international debut at the age of 19 against the Netherlands 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.^[2] Bergamasco continued to insist his best position was on the flank,^[3] 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,^[4] 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.^[5] He was returned to his normal starting position at flanker for the following week's fixture against Ireland.^[6]

He missed the 2011 Six Nations Championship due to a injury but was called for the 2011 Churchill Cup to the experienced Italy A,^[7] as a preparation for the upcoming 2011 Rugby World Cup. Italy A would finish in 3rd place.

References

1. ^ "Rawr Data Player Profile: Mauro and Mirco Bergamasco". http://manpilez.wordpress.com/2010/08/15/rawr-data-player-profile-mauro-mirco-bergamasco/. Retrieved 31 March 2011. 
2. ^ . http://www.rbs6nations.com/en/1710.php. 
3. ^ "Italy leave a Bergamasco brother on the bench". The Scotsman. 22 August 2003. http://sport.scotsman.com/sport/Italy-leave-a-Bergamasco-brother.2454922.jp. Retrieved 31 March 2011. 
4. ^ [1] Bergamasco handed scrum-half role
5. ^ Standley, James (7 February 2009). "England 36–11 Italy". BBC News Sport. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/7873600.stm. Retrieved 15 February 2009. 
6. ^ "Bergamasco moved back to flanker". BBC News Sport. 12 February 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/7877704.stm. Retrieved 15 December 2009. 
7. ^ Mauro Bergamasco Called for the 2011 Churchill Cup

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

Persondata
Name	Bergamasco, Mauro
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1 May 1979
Place of birth	Padua, Italy
Date of death
Place of death