Mourning at Rugby Belluno: Valentino “Hulk” De Polo is gone

The historic Gialloblù player remembered by former teammates Saronide, Lunardon, Liguori and Rossi

BELLUNO

An illness has taken away Valentino De Polo. Historical player of Rugby Belluno, he was the father of Alessandro and Alberto, columns of the roster of the capital of the recent past and present. The sad news is yesterday morning: he was just 63 years old.

One of his memories is entrusted to Renzo “Orso” Saronide

«He started playing in the first team in ’77 -’78, at the age of 20. Starting from Serie C he arrived in A2; he was fast, he played third line. In the early years he was called “Hulk”, because when he took the ball and went inside of him he did damage to the opponents. He was a person of company, he liked to group. Always ready to give you a hand, a friend. I remember that in September he first went hunting, and then he came to train ».

He was a companion in many battles as well Mino Lunardon.

“He had a powerful, monstrous physique. We nicknamed him “Hulk”. He passed the passion to his sons Alessandro and Alberto. He never missed the games. From a human point of view, a wonderful person: he was a team. So much so that every now and then he took ears from his wife. An anecdote? Once, in 1986, when we went up to A2, we were in the locker room. He had a wool hat on his head. The coach at the time asked him why, and he “otherwise I miss the concentration.” We started laughing ».

Also Vittorio Rossi it underlines its sporting and even more human qualities.

«He was a great player, but above all he was a leader, without the need for office. A charismatic figure in the group ».

“We lose a great friend and a good person,” he greets him Luigi Liguori. «One who has always given the maximum commitment throughout his career. He was a rugby player who was always physically and mentally in place, a serious person from all points of view. He left too soon. ‘