 Bergamasco playing forStade Français, 2007 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | Mauro Bergamasco (1979-05-01)1 May 1979 (age 46) Padua, Italy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 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 | Professional rugby union footballer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Mauro Bergamasco (born 1 May 1979) is an Italian formerrugby union player who last played forZebre. He predominantly played as an open-sideflanker, although his versatility meant that he had also played a number of international games on the wing, and started atscrum-half in an infamously error-prone performance. He was considered to be one of Italy's best players in his preferred position.
His younger brotherMirco is also a professional rugby player. Both brothers are featured on the cover of the Italian version of theEA Sports gameRugby 08.
Mauro Bergamasco was born inPadua into a rugby family; his fatherArturo gained four caps for the Italian national side between 1973 and 1978, whilst his brother,Mirco, has also won caps for theItalian 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 clubSelvazzano, the team Arturo coached.
Bergamasco began his playing career withPetrarca Padova, before moving toTreviso.
In 2003, he moved to France with his younger brother to play forStade Français, reportedly negotiating a contract for his brother Mirco without telling him.[1] The brothers went on to win two French championships.
Mauro joined RaboDirect Pro12 side, Aironi Rugby on 5 December 2011.[2]
He made his international debut at the age of 19 againstthe Netherlands and soon became a key member of the Italian squad.
In 2003, Italy's coachJohn Kirwan deployed him as a winger, comparing his speed and physical stature withJonah Lomu.[3] Bergamasco continued to insist that his best position was on the flank,[4] and later re-established himself in that position.
Bergamasco was banned for four weeks in 2007 for hittingWalesfly halfStephen Jones in aSix Nations match and again for 13 weeks after gouging the eyes ofLee 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,[5] 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.[6] He was returned to his normal starting position at flanker for the following week's fixture against Ireland.[7]
He missed the2011 Six Nations Championship due to an injury, but was called for the2011 Churchill Cup to the experiencedItaly A,[8] as a preparation for the upcoming2011 Rugby World Cup. Italy A would finish in 3rd place.
Although not in the original Italian squad for the2013 Six Nations Championship, he was called up by coachJacques Brunel afterSergio Parisse was sent off, facing the possibility of at least a six-week ban for insulting a match official during a club game mid-6 Nations Championship.[9]
For the2015 Rugby World Cup, he became the second player in history to have played five World Cups, reaching the SamoanBrian Lima.[10] He announced his retirement from professional rugby after Italy's final game of the tournament.[11]
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