Former Italian XV mainstay Massimo Cuttitta, also a former forward coach of the Scotland team, died Sunday at the age of 54, following complications related to Covid-19, announced the Italian Rugby Federation.
"It is with deep emotion that the Federation and all of Italian rugby have learned of the untimely death of Massimo Cuttitta," she said in a statement.
⚫ Tutta la #FIR si unisce al dolore della famiglia Cuttitta a seguito della scomparsa di Massimo, simbolo del nostro rugby.
The ex pilone e Capitano Azzurro, 70 caps tra il 1990 e il 2000, si è spento oggi a 54 anni ➡ https://t.co/Ta2foytJx1
Ciao Massimo, semper #insieme a noi pic.twitter.com/zfXJ6m6vjR
- Italrugby (@Federugby) April 11, 2021
Cuttitta wore the colors of Italy between 1990 and 2000, playing 70 matches, including around 20 as captain.
He had notably played two World Cups (1991 and 1995) and the Azzurri's very first matches in the Six Nations Tournament, which Italy joined in 2000.
Born in Italy, he spent his childhood and adolescence in South Africa where he played rugby.
Back in Italy in 1985, he played for several Italian clubs before joining the Harlequins in London in 1997.
After his career, he had coached forwards in several clubs and within the Scottish team, then advised some emerging selections such as Romania, Canada or Portugal, recalls the Federation.
The Scottish Federation also shared on Twitter its "deep sadness" after the announcement of this disappearance.
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