Mirco Bergamasco to wow the World Cup on and off the field
MEET the Italian Stallion. The Azzurri pin-up boy ready to wow the World Cup — on and off the field.
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MEET the Italian Stallion. The Azzurri pin-up boy ready to wow the World Cup — on and off the field.
Italian centre Mirco Bergamasco — who played 89 rugby union Tests for Italy — has suddenly become the heart-throb of rugby league’s biggest tournament.
Bergamasco, 34, switched to rugby league a year ago and won immediate selection in Italy’s 24-man World Cup side.
A household name back home, Bergamasco has appeared on national television in the Italian version of Dancing With The Stars, as well as Dance, Dance, Danc e with his wife, Ati Safavi.
He’s posed naked several times in magazines and the proud vegan recently stripped down for an advertising campaign with animal-rights group PETA.
Polite, with a chiselled body and lightly tinted hair, Bergamasco admits the publicity has gone down well with female fans. Meaning he’s sure to be a big hit with his footy, as well as Sydney Confidential.
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“I’m married because I love my wife. The rest isn’t important,” a laughing Bergamasco said.
“I’m too shy. I’ll never be a Casanova. I’m more reserved.
“But, yeah, maybe the girls like me, I don’t know. You’d have to ask the girls.
“It’s important, the looks, for sure. But I prefer to play on the footy field.
“I can say back home I am a public person, public figure. I did it (get naked) for a good cause and to get information across.
“Taking your clothes off in front of a camera is different because you are doing it in front of professional people. Not the public.”
Bergamasco is now looking to further Italy’s cause in the Rugby League World Cup with pool games against Jarryd Hayne’s Fiji, Ireland and the USA.
The veteran goalkicker, a teammate of Mark Gasnier’s during the former St George Illawarra star’s French rugby sojourn with Stade Francais, has also rubbed shoulders with the likes of Tana Umaga, Richie McCaw, Dan Carter, David Pocock and Israel Folau.
He played a key role in Italy’s famous 2011 Six Nations win over France.
Italy announced their final squad on Wednesday with Bergamasco to play alongside James Tedesco, Daniel Alvaro, Mark Minichiello, Nathan Brown, Paul Vaughan and Terry Campese.
“When I wear the Italian jersey, it is always an opportunity,” he said. “I’m proud because whenever I wear the Italian jersey, it’s something great.
“It is difficult to explain all the emotion. My heart is Italian. I love my country. It is always special when I play for my country.
“To play in this World Cup is a big honour for me. It’s a new world for me but I will try and do my best. There is a great bond in the Italian team.”
At 34, he’s in the twilight of his career, but jumped at the chance to switch to rugby league, rather than take advantage of his star power in Italy.
“I love competition but I want competition to be real and sometimes TV is not real,” Bergamasco said.
“I like a challenge, I like to find new adventures. But I’m a professional rugby league player — that is the main thing.
“All the things I do (off the field) are because of my rugby.
“Rugby league is something that has given me interest, more passion. I tried it, and I liked it.”
Originally published as Mirco Bergamasco to wow the World Cup on and off the field
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