The coronavirus hit the rugby world that mourns the death of Massimo Cuttitta, former Italian national died on Sunday at the age of 54 Albano Laziale for complications related to the virus. The news was given by the Italian Rugby Federation, with the federal president, Marzio Innocenti, who wanted to remember him with a statement: “We didn’t have the opportunity to share the blue shirt, but the love for our colors had formed a strong, natural bond between us. Cuttitta was not only an incredible servant of Italian rugby and an excellent interpreter of the role of left prop, but also an appreciated ambassador of our movement abroad, coach of the forwards for the Scotland and for other national teams that he helped bring to the stage of the Rugby World Cup. In this tragic moment my thoughts, those of the Council and of all Italian rugby go to Marcello and to the whole Cuttitta family, already deeply touched a few days ago by the death of Massimo’s mother, Marcello and Michele ”. In his memory, Innocenti also arranged a minute of silence in the next weekend before the kick-off of the matches of the Italian Peroni Top10 Championship.
Cuttitta made his debut with the Azzurri in Naples in 1990 against Poland, then wearing the national team jersey on other sixty-nine occasions until 2000, the year of his international retirement after having lived as a protagonist his debut in Six Nations against Scotland, in the unforgettable success of 5 February at Flaminio. On twenty-two occasions he had led the Italian Rugby team as captain.
Born in Latina, but grown up in rugby South Africa like his twin Marcello, Massimo had worn the de jerseys during his career L’Aquila, dell’Calvisano amateurs, of Milan and that of Harlequins Londoners, taking part in two editions of the World Cup and dressing the black and white of the Barbarians.
After the experience across the Channel, he had held the role of player-coach for numerous Italian clubs – Bologna, Rugby Rome, Alghero e Leonessa – before joining as forward coach in Edinburgh and, from there, to the Scottish federation, relaunching the Highlander pack on the international scene with his work. More recently, he had put his experience as a scrum coach at the service of emerging internationals such as Romania, Canada e Portugal, carrying out consultant duties for the respective technical staff.
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