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'One of the greatest Italian rugby players of all time' - Leonardo Ghiraldini calls time on Test career
Italian hooker, Leonardo Ghiraldini, who won 107 caps for the Azzuri, has called time on a 14-year Test career.
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FIR have said that Ghiraldini retirement brings to an end the era of Italian players born in the early 1980s, with the hooker’s retirement coming shortly after fellow centurions Sergio Parisse and Alexandro Zanni.
From his debut under Pierre Berbizier in Tokyo against Japan in 2006, he went on to captain Italy 17 times and appeared at four consecutive Rugby World Cup between 2007 to 2019.
He enjoyed stints at Leicester Tigers, Stade Toulousain, Calvisano and of course his beloved Benetton.
“I have always given my all for the blue, on and off the pitch, aware that it was not an acquired right to play for Italy, but doing everything possible to win that right.
“I considered each call-up with the national team to be a unique and special occasion, to be lived with all the energy, passion and respect possible, because these moments are never taken for granted,” said Ghiraldini.
“I have represented my country at every level, from the U16 to four editions of the World Cup. I have had the privilege of captaining Italy on many occasions, of playing in all the most important tournaments in the Northern Hemisphere. After the injury in 2019 against France, I worked to the best of my ability to get back to the top-level so as to deserve a national team call up once again. I thank Franco Smith for giving me the opportunity, last autumn, to dress the ‘blue once again and for the confidence he would have given me again in the Six Nations that is about to start.”
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“Now, I think it’s the right time to say goodbye to international rugby, to thank Italy, my teammates, the coaches who have allowed me to play for a whole movement, our incredible fans for the love they have for me.”
“I leave a small door open to rugby being played, but it is time for me to look beyond my professional future and that of my family,” declared the Paduan hooker.
FIR President Alfredo Gavazzi said of the frontrower: “For work ethic, professionalism, ability to inspire teammates by example, Leonardo Ghiraldini represents, in my personal opinion and in that of thousands of fans, one of the greatest Italian rugby players of all time.
“I remember him as a very young protagonist in the top league, when he moved to Calvisano from Petrarca: the first steps of a path that would see him take off in an extraordinary career towards Treviso first, Leicester and then Toulouse. For Leonardo, the same words I said for Alessandro Zanni apply: our movement can only feel admiration and gratitude for the priceless contribution it has guaranteed to the cause of our national team in fourteen years of career at the highest levels “he declared the
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Comments on RugbyPass
“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to comments