Mirco only gets hotter with age! |
Mirco Bergamasco (born 23 February 1983) is an Italian rugby union footballer. He primarily plays center, presently with Rovigo Delta, and internationally with Italy. Before joining Racing for the 2010–11 season, he had spent seven seasons with the other (and, in recent years, more prominent) Paris club Stade Français. Born in Padua, Bergamasco is the son of Arturo and the younger brother of Mauro Bergamasco, both Italian internationals. He made his international debut against France in the 2002 Six Nations Championship, having previously appeared against an All-Star XV in a non-cap international.
He established himself as a regular in the Azzurri side under John Kirwan, but suffered a jaw injury during the 2003 World Cup in Australia, and was forced to miss all but two of Italy's games – spoiling a great year which had seen him score three tries in the 2003 Six Nations Championship.
He switched to inside center from the back three and was considered one of the stars of the 2006 Six Nations Championship, scoring three tries in five matches.
Bergamasco appeared on the cover and in the 2004 edition of Les Dieux du Stade, a calendar in which French rugby players pose nude. He and his brother featured on the cover of the Italian version of the EA Sports game Rugby 08.
Though his position has primarily been that of the winger and center, in recent years, he has been one of the main goal kickers for Italy. This attribute came into effect in the 2011 Six Nations Championship match against France. Bergamasco kicked 6 from 8 against France, resulting in a 22-21 win for Italy, their first win in the Six Nations against the French.