Mirco Bergamasco Explained

Mirco Bergamasco
Birth Date:1983 2, df=yes
Birth Place:Padua, Veneto, Italy
Height:1.8m (05.9feet)
Weight:86kg (190lb)[1]
Ru Position:Centre, Wing, Fullback
First:RU
Ru Club1:Petrarca
Ru Year1start:2001
Ru Year1end:03
Ru Appearances1:36
Ru Points1:45
Ru Year2start:2003
Ru Year2end:10
Ru Appearances2:127
Ru Tries2:26
Ru Goals2:6
Ru Fieldgoals2:0
Ru Points2:150
Ru Club3:Racing Métro
Ru Year3start:2010
Ru Year3end:13
Ru Appearances3:36
Ru Tries3:4
Ru Goals3:10
Ru Fieldgoals3:0
Ru Points3:54
Ru Club4:Rovigo Delta
Ru Year4start:2013
Ru Year4end:14
Ru Appearances4:19
Ru Tries4:4
Ru Goals4:22
Ru Fieldgoals4:0
Ru Points4:168
Ru Club5:Zebre
Ru Year5start:2014
Ru Year5end:16
Ru Appearances5:20
Ru Tries5:0
Ru Goals5:4
Ru Fieldgoals5:0
Ru Points5:20
Ru Year6start:2016
Ru Appearances6:12
Ru Tries6:0
Ru Goals6:21
Ru Fieldgoals6:0
Ru Points6:117
Ru Teama:Italy
Ru Yearastart:2002
Ru Yearaend:12
Ru Appearancesa:89
Ru Pointsa:256
Ru Triesa:17
Ru Goalsa:49
Ru Fieldgoalsa:0
Ru Teamb:Italy Sevens
Ru Yearbstart:2015
Ru Appearancesb:3
Ru Pointsb:5
Ru Triesb:1
Ru Goalsb:0
Ru Fieldgoalsb:0
Club1:Saluzzo Roosters
Year1start:2016
Teama:Italy
Yearastart:2016
Yearaend:17
Appearancesa:5
Triesa:0
Goalsa:24
Fieldgoalsa:0
Pointsa:48
Updated:16 January 2021

Mirco Bergamasco (born 23 February 1983) is an Italian rugby union and rugby league footballer. Bergamasco has played both rugby league and rugby union, and is a dual-code rugby international, having played for both the Italy national rugby union team and the Italy national rugby league team. He primarily plays at centre or wing. He played in the 2003, 2007 and 2011 Rugby World Cups as well as the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.

Playing career

Club career

In March 2016, Bergamasco signed with the Sacramento Express for the inaugural season of PRO Rugby.[2]

International career

Bergamasco made his international debut against France in the 2002 Six Nations Championship, having previously appeared against an All-Star XV in a non-cap international. He established himself as a regular in the Azzurri side under coach John Kirwan. He scored three tries in the 2003 Six Nations Championship. He suffered a jaw injury during the 2003 Rugby World Cup, however, and was forced to miss all but two of Italy's games.

He switched to inside centre from the back three and was considered one of the stars of the 2006 Six Nations Championship, scoring three tries in five matches.

Though his position has primarily been that of the wing and centre, he has been one of the main goal kickers for Italy since 2011. In the 2011 Six Nations Championship match against France. Bergamasco kicked six from eight, resulting in a 22–21 win for Italy, their first win in the Six Nations against the French.

Bergamasco returned to the Italian side for the 2014 Six Nations Championship,[3] but was not selected to play in any matches.

Switch to rugby league

In October 2016, Bergamasco was selected in Italy's 22-man squad for their 2017 Rugby League World Cup qualifying campaign.[4] He played at in two matches, kicking 7 goals for Italy against Serbia. In March 2017, Bergamasco joined the Saluzzo Roosters during their inaugural season in the French National Division 2 competition.[5] [6] In June 2017, Bergamasco represented Italy in their matches against Lebanon and Spain, kicking 13 goals against the latter.[7] Bergamasco kicked 4 goals in Italy's pre-World Cup match against Malta in October.[8]

Personal life

Bergamasco is the son of Arturo and the younger brother of Mauro Bergamasco, both Italian internationals.

Bergamasco appeared on the cover and in the 2004 edition of Dieux du Stade, a calendar in which French rugby players pose nude. In 2007 he and his brother featured on the cover of the Italian version of the EA Sports game Rugby 08.

Bergamasco is a vegan since 2013.[9] In 2017 he posed nude for one of PETA's ad campaigns advocating for the vegan lifestyle.[10]

He's married to French Iranian journalist Ati Safavi. She became a vegan before him, inspiring him.[11] They both appeared as testimonials for the Italian animal rights organization Lega Anti Vivisezione (LAV).[12]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: FrenchRugbyClub Racing-Métro 92 squad . 8 April 2011 . FrenchRugbyClub.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110816185133/http://frenchrugbyclub.com/Players/Racing-Metro-Players.html . 16 August 2011 .
  2. Web site: 9 March 2016. Bergamasco Confirmed for PRO Sacramento. America's Rugby News. 10 April 2017.
  3. Web site: Garcia-Bennett. Cindy. 24 January 2014. Mirco Bergamasco set for return to Italy squad 14 months after fracturing his kneecap. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220515/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/international/six-nations-2014-mirco-bergamasco-set-for-return-to-italy-squad-14-months-after-fracturing-his-9082150.html . 15 May 2022 . subscription . live. The Independent. 10 April 2017.
  4. Web site: 8 October 2016. Campese, Bergamasco in Italy RL squad. SBS.
  5. Web site: 23 March 2017. Rugby, Bergamasco riparte dal Saluzzo. ANSA. 10 April 2017. it.
  6. Web site: Costa. Paolo. 28 March 2017. Mirco Bergamasco "star" a Saluzzo. La Stampa. 10 April 2017. it.
  7. Web site: Portoghese. Matteo. 19 June 2017. L’Italia del rugby league si gode il suo momento d’oro. Mondo Sportivo. 19 September 2017. it.
  8. Web site: 9 October 2017. Test Match, l’Italia pareggia 24-24 con Malta a Sydney. Federazione Italia Rugby League. 10 October 2017. it.
  9. Web site: Beatrice. Montini. Mirco Bergamasco, campione di rugby diventato vegano: "Solo benefici". it. Corriere.it. 22 October 2015. 4 August 2018.
  10. Web site: Beatrice. Montini. Mirco Bergamasco posa nudo per Peta e la scelta vegan. Corriere.it. it. 18 July 2017. 4 August 2018.
  11. Web site: Roberto. Parretta. Rugby, Mirco Bergamasco vegano felice: "Un beneficio enorme. Gazzetta.it. it. 3 July 2015. 4 August 2018.
  12. Web site: Guido. Minciotti. Vuoi provare la colazione vegana?. Ilsole24ore.com. it. 20 October 2015. 4 August 2018.