Welsh rugby star’s man of the match gift is ‘sportsmanship at its finest’

Italy ended a seven-year Six Nations rugby losing streak in a stunning performance but a post-match act made it so much better.

What a moment between these two men. Photo: Twitter

A brilliant act of sportsmanship has capped off Italy’s first ever Six Nations rugby win over Wales after the Azzurri pulled off a last-gasp 22-21 triumph.

Italy had a run of 36 straight losses in the competition dating back to a 2015 win over Scotland.

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The hero proved to be 22-year-old French-born fullback Ange Capuozzo who made a break in the 79th minute and set up the try for winger Edoardo Padovani to score under the posts. Paolo Garbisi then sealed the victory.

Capuozzo was the hero, however, and he was chaired by his teammates draped in an Italian flag.

That was until player of the match Josh Adams handed over his medal to the Italian fullback in a moment that appeared to mean a lot to the youngster.

Sportsmanship at it's finest 👏

Josh Adams gives his POTM medal to Ange Capuozzo after his sensational display helped Italy to their first ever win in Wales 🙌#GuinnessSixNations#WALvITApic.twitter.com/CTj9q8JJvg

— Guinness Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) March 19, 2022

BBC presenter Gabby Logan said: “We heard Jonathan Davies give Josh Adams Man of the Match, just moments before Capuozzo’s incredible break.

“Look at this beautiful moment where Adams gives it to Capuozzo and he receives that looking very emotional at the presentation to him.

“I am sure Jonathan Davies would endorse that as well, if he could have changed his decision.”

Josh Adams is a classy dude. Photo: Twitter

Got to love sport. Photo: Twitter

Capuozzo took to Twitter to thank Adams as well.

“Thanks for your kind attention Josh. A great player and a great man,” he wrote to a video of the moment.

Italian Rugby even joined in: “Thank you @WelshRugbyUnion, it was an honour to share the pitch - amazing sportsmanship gesture by Josh Adams.”

The Guardian’s Martin Pengelly wrote: “Every time I think about Ange Capuozzo setting off, doing a Welshman like a kipper, passing inside to Padovani and winning the game in Cardiff for Italy – and then Josh Adams giving Capuozzo his man of the match medal – I smile. Which is what sport is for.”

BBC reporter Andy Burke added: “This is just brilliant. Really classy from Josh Adams”.

BBC’s Jack Murley also said: “If you were looking for 30 seconds that summed up everything about what it means to be dignified in defeat, Josh Adams has just given it to you.”

Josh Adams handing over the Man of the match medal is one of the classiest things I’ve seen over the years of being a rugby fan.👏👏👏👏👏Congratulations Italy.👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

— Buster (@Buster_comedy) March 19, 2022

Josh Adams giving the POTM award to Italy 15 was absolutely class👏👏 #WALvITA

— Danny Breen (@DFreshboy14) March 19, 2022

And those responses just touch the surface as the moment of class went viral.

Adams was lost for words after claiming the POTM award, admitting: “I don’t know how we lost that game to be honest.”

Adams said his team was “poor” at the death and said: “It was not good enough from us”.

Adams scored Wales’ last try in the 68th minute and pulled off a try-saving tackle.

For the Italian, Capuozzo said the result meant a lot as the Azzurri wanted to prove the team is “not dead”.

“It hasn’t sunk in yet, it will little by little,” Capuozzo told AFP. “It’s a beautiful achievement.

“The main objective of this team that we are building is to gain the respect of the world of rugby. It’s very important to show that we are not a dead nation.

“We must not forget that we are playing in this tournament against the best nations in the world, the other five nations are in the world’s top eight.”

With AFP

Originally published as Welsh rugby star’s man of the match gift is ‘sportsmanship at its finest’