THE EAGLE. The training of the Italian national rugby team at the Tommaso Fattori stadium in L’Aquila has just finished. Players approach fans for autographs. In a corner of the pitch, a player in a blue shirt is talking to some children. Someone raises their hand to ask questions, and he answers. From afar you can see him waving his arms. With those same arms, during the match he has to lift into the air his teammate who tries to catch the ball in the touchout, the throw-in in rugby. And with the rest of his body he will have to support the push of those “big men” teammates who will try to compete for the ball and the ground with the other 8 big men of the opposing team. The lesson is over, the player stands up. The audience behind the barriers calls him, “Riccio, Riccio”. I’m just here for him.
The origins. According to the registry office, Marco Riccioni, a 26-year-old prop for the Italian nation, was born in Pescara, but he is from Teramo in every way. He approaches smiling. In the short interview with the Center he will say that he is «very engaged and very faithful. She is from Milan.” It’s news that won’t make fans happy. «If Teramo is my first home, L’Aquila is my second», says the Italy prop. «In this same stadium I played in a semi-final of the under 16 championship, when I played for Polisportiva L’Aquila rugby». “These were the times of «Zappò, (Maurizio Zaffiri, third wing of L’Aquila rugby – ed.) and I came here to watch L’Aquila rugby 1936 play».
The flight. After L’Aquila, Riccioni literally took flight. First Rome and then Calvisano. Having lost his first scudetto final, he won his first scudetto in 2016. Then Benetton, in Treviso, his first call-up to the national team in 2019, the move to England with Saracens and an English Premiership in the 2022-2023 season. While he talks, he looks around. «It’s nice to return to this stadium and this city. L’Aquila has always been a historic place for rugby, and then returning to Abruzzo, and in any case to Italy, is always nice. Just look at the mountain of people who are here for us.” The question is obligatory, the difference between rugby across the Channel and Italian rugby. «Culture», he replies. “There, children have been playing rugby since school, and no one is afraid of them getting hurt.” «It is normal that football should remain the leading sport in Italy. But we are trying, Fir, the Italian rugby federation, is trying to bring as many young people closer to the world of rugby.”
The objectives. Riccioni’s career had a slowdown due to some injuries. «I think I paid the price with bad luck. I’m ready and I have to thank coach Gonzalo Quesada who joined me even when I wasn’t in top shape. I worked hard to be part of this group again.” This year, Italy’s rugby team performed well in the Six Nations Tournament, the most important European rugby event. The Azzurri finally managed to leave the “wooden spoon” to Wales. In fact, the “wooden spoon” is symbolically awarded to the team that, at the end of a tournament, occupies last place in the rankings. At the end of the short interview, for a boy who lives in England, there is another obligatory question. What does he miss most about Italy? The answer is obvious: “food”.
Raniero Pizzi
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