Italian rugby in mourning: Giancarlo Dondi has died

Italian rugby mourns the passing at 90 of Giancarlo Dondi, historic president of the Italian Rugby Federation from 1996 to 2012. Honorary president of the Italian Rugby Federation and former acting president for four terms, since 1996 Dondi became a member of the executive committee of World Rugby.

From 1955 to 1964, apart from a two-year interlude at the Fiamme Oro in conjunction with military service, he wore the Rugby Parma jersey; from 1971 to 1975 he became its president. In 2014, he is among the founding members of the Yellow-blue Hearts.

At the request of the federal president, Andrea Duodo, procedures have been initiated to name the “Cittadella del Rugby” after him. In his memory, a minute’s silence will be observed on all fields in Italy over the weekend.

The Emilia executive would have turned 90 in less than a month. Under his stewardship, rugby Italy was admitted to the Six Nations in 1998, actively entering the tournament in 2000.