Massimo Cuttitta, former prop of the national rugby team, died of covid at the age of 54. “It was with the deepest dismay that the Italian Rugby Federation and the entire national rugby movement learned of the untimely death of Massimo Cuttitta, which took place on Sunday 11 April in Albano Laziale at the age of 54 due to complications arising as a result of the positivity at Covid-19 “, reads the Federugby website.
“Massimo, Azzurro n. 423, had made his debut with Italy 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 the Six Nations against Scotland, in the unforgettable success of February 5 at the Flaminio. On twenty-two occasions, Cuttitta had led the Italian Rugby team as captain “, recalls the federation.
Born in Latina, but raised in rugby in South Africa like his twin Marcello, Massimo had worn the shirts of L’Aquila, Amatori Calvisano and Milan and that of the London Harlequins in his career, taking part in two editions of the World and dressing the black and white of the Barbarians on several occasions.
After the experience of the other side of the Channel, he had held the role of player-coach for numerous Italian clubs – Bologna, Rugby Roma, Alghero and Leonessa – before joining as forward coach in Edinburgh and, from there, to the Scottish federation, relaunching with their work the Highlander pack on the international stage.
More recently, he had put his experience as a scrum coach at the service of emerging internationals such as Romania, Canada and Portugal, acting as consultant for their respective technical staffs.
“All Italian rugby is intimately touched by the death of Massimo, one of the symbols of the national team who, thanks to an extraordinary generation of players, gained access to the Six Nations Tournament with a series of unforgettable performances in the 1990s”, he declared the President of Fir, Marzio Innocenti.
“We did not have the opportunity to share the blue jersey, 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 Scotland and other national teams who helped bring to the stage of the Rugby World Cup. “
“In this tragic moment – concluded the Federal President – 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 memory of Massimo Cuttitta, the Federal President has ordered that a minute of silence be observed next weekend before the kick-off of the matches of the Italian Peroni TOP10 Championship.