The guidance of the forwards for the 2024/5 season will be entrusted to the expert hands of the Piacenza native Carlo Orlandi. Raised among the ranks of Lyons, he arrived at professional rugby in 1984 and until 2001 he made 273 appearances in the top league, 13 in the European Club Cups and wore the shirts of Amatori Milano, the team with which he won the Italian championship in 1995, Rovigo, Lyons and Piacenza.
44 appearances with the Italian representative between 1991 and 2000, the year in which he played in the first edition of the 6 Nations tournament, collecting two caps.
Since 2001 he has been coach of the U19 national team with which he participates in the World Cup. In 2002/2003 he took part in the World Cup leading the U21 team.
From 2003 to 2011 he was assistant coach of the senior national team, forward specialist, and collaborated with the coaches Kirwan, Barbizier, Mallet and Brunel.
From 2017 to 2020 he was assistant coach, forwards specialist, for the Pro 14 Zebre Rugby team. From 2020 to 2022 he is head coach of Lyons Piacenza, a Top 10 team.
In 2021 he was elected federal councilor of the Italian Rugby Federation technical quota.
A brilliant career, which began due to family tradition, even though he would have liked to be a chef, but his mother enrolled him in electrical engineering. After graduating, he wanted to be an architect, which is why his mother enrolled him in ISEF, but rugby has always been part of his life: his true obsession.
Now Orlandi has decided to make his incredible experiential wealth available to Biella Rugby: «I was lucky enough to be part of professional rugby for many years, but I have known Biella for a long time, I have been there more than once following the national teams that played matches in your city and I was struck by the work done over the years by this club. Biella has created a structure even before seeking results, it is the basis for seeking ever higher goals. Unfortunately, many invest in purchasing players and if things don’t go as hoped, it often all comes to an end. Biella has a beautiful facility and people with clear ideas, there aren’t many places like it. A couple of seasons ago, when I was coaching Lyons Piacenza, we played a friendly match with Biella and I had the opportunity to perceive an interesting group: many young people and some more experienced elements, a team that can be worked on. Last season I felt the need to take a break and dedicated myself to studying: psychology and neuroscience, because in my opinion knowing the learning process is fundamental. To return to the field I wasn’t looking for a team, but a project and what Biella Rugby proposed to me, based on the young people, on the growth of the coaches and the first team, definitely convinced me. It’s exactly what I was looking for. I know the Musso and Cesare Maia family well and I know that I will get along very well with them. In Biella I also know Nicola Mazzucato, I played a few matches with him for the national team, when I was old and he was young. I would like to make Biella a recognized center in Italy, a company where best practices can be brought outside and be of help to other companies that want to grow. Last Friday I met the Biella players and coaches for the first time, I am at their complete disposal. We’ll see what we can do, but above all what the kids want to do. We must grow, but in growth we can also achieve some objectives».
Corrado Mussosports director Biella Rugby: «We were looking for a specific and experienced figure, not just a coach willing to train the forwards. We couldn’t have found anything better: he is exactly the person we were looking for both in terms of skills and experience. I am convinced that Carlo, who has also been given the task of helping in the training of young coaches and the development of the youth sector, will represent an enormous added value to our project, just as I am convinced that he will integrate well with all the figures of the club».
Alberto Benettinhead coach Biella Rugby: «I am very happy for the arrival of Carlo Orlandi, who I got to know in 2010 when I was still playing, I had been invited, and he was coaching the national team. He is a coach with a lot of experience behind him and above all a very good person, always kind and helpful. A person of great depth who will give us a great hand in growth. Personally, I am happy with his arrival because, as a technician in training, I can learn a lot from his experience».
