Mourning in the world of Italian rugby: Massimo Cuttitta, protagonist of the history of victory over France in the Fira Cup, died due to complications related to Covid. He was 54 years old one of the men symbol of the national team of coach Georges Coste in the 90s, the team that gave Italy access to the tournament that became the Six Nations. Originally from Latina but then moved to South Africa with his parents he had started playing rugby, he had put together 70 international appearances between 1990 and 2000, taking part in the 1991 and 1995 World Cups.
Together with his twin Marcello he played the match of the historic victory of Italy over France in the final of the Fira Cup in 1997 in Grenoble against France. It was the first time in 30 years the two national teams faced each other in a test match valid for the Fira Cup: for the first and only time in the history of the tournament it was Italy that won with a 40-32. It was the first official tournament for the Azzurri and their first ever victory against the French. As a club player he wore the shirts of L’Aquila, Amatori Calvisano, but above all that of Milan with which he had won 4 league titles. He then worked as a coach on the staff of the national teams of Scotland, Canada, Romania and Portugal.
“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” declared the FIR President Marzio Innocenti: “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 for other national teams which helped bring the Rugby World Cup to the stage “