The tattoos and nasty scar on Tommaso Menoncello’s physique assist inform the story of what has been a brief however unbelievable journey to rugby’s highest stage for the brand new famous person of the Italian sport.
Nonetheless simply 21, Menoncello has been named the Six Nations males’s participant of the Championship for 2024, the award capping what has been a exceptional comeback from harm.
He’s already a shining mild in an Azzurri aspect which is now trying in direction of what they’ll hope can be a shiny future after years of distress but in addition a possible future nice.
‘I used to be the 717th participant to play for Italy,’ Menoncello tells Mail Sport, pointing on the quantity inked on the again of his forearm on the finish of his first main interview for a publication outdoors of his homeland.
Talking on the coaching floor of his membership Benetton and clutching the gong which displays his more-than-promising expertise, Menoncello then exhibits off the marked pores and skin by his left shoulder from the operation he had final summer season on a bicep downside which compelled him to overlook the 2023 World Cup.
Tommaso Menoncello has been named the Six Nations males’s participant of the Championship for 2024
The brand new famous person of the Italian sport, 21, got here again from harm and an operation to take the Six Nations by storm
‘They went in right here and right here,’ he says, exhibiting off the legacy of the surgeon’s work. ‘I even have the date from my first Take a look at strive for Italy tattooed on my chest – February 5, 2022 – in opposition to France.
‘This award is a big factor for me after the harm I had as a result of that was a very troublesome interval.
‘Everyone thought it might be very exhausting for me to return again as earlier than however the one factor in my thoughts was that I needed to come again higher. I confirmed on this Six Nations what I can do.
‘I’m very proud and comfortable to be the person of the Six Nations. It was a very huge shock.’
Menoncello may quickly begin working out of room if he marks every of his rugby achievements with some commemorative paintings as there’ll certainly be rather more for him to have a good time sooner or later.
Not a lot was recognized of Menoncello outdoors of Italy earlier than the beginning of the yr.
However his extraordinary performances in what was statistically the nation’s greatest Six Nations when it comes to outcomes introduced him to a far wider viewers. He’s solely the second Azzurri participant to win the Championship’s coveted particular person award and the youngest from any nation ever to take action.
‘Sonny Invoice Williams is my idol. I need to be like him with the offloading sport,’ Menoncello provides, switching between his native Italian and English in spectacular vogue.
He’s the youngest participant to ever win the award and has referred to as their latest success a brand new ‘begin’ for Italian rugby
He named heavyweight boxer and former New Zealand rugby star Sonny Invoice Williams as his inspiration
‘He’s the participant I take plenty of inspiration from. Sooner or later I need to enhance my means to dump and likewise my kicking sport. I used to play prop. It was a very long time in the past – once I began rugby within the Underneath-12’s. They put me there for one season however I didn’t prefer it!’
Menoncello is recent confronted and nonetheless extremely younger, however he already possesses the form of hulking physique required to thrive in worldwide rugby. Six Nations wins over Scotland and Wales and a draw with France confirmed actual Azzurri progress.
New head coach Gonzalo Quesada has already made a huge impact.
Within the likes of Menoncello, Quesada has a gifted group of younger gamers at his disposal after the Italian Rugby Federation undertook a extreme revamp of their academy system. The transfer has greater than paid off.
‘It was our greatest Six Nations and the most effective interval for Italian rugby for a very long time,’ says Menoncello, who was born and raised in Treviso and nonetheless lives at dwelling together with his mother and father within the metropolis.
‘We didn’t just like the feedback we noticed within the newspapers and on social media saying Italy shouldn’t be within the Six Nations. One among our targets this yr was to point out what we are able to do, particularly after the World Cup which led to not one of the best ways. For us, this can be a begin.
‘Within the subsequent Six Nations we need to do even higher. We need to preserve successful for the subsequent few years.‘
It was one among our targets for the Six Nations to attempt to encourage the Italian folks and promote out the Stadio Olimpico. We did it. Now we need to attempt to encourage extra folks and develop rugby in Italy.’
New head coach Gonzalo Quesada led Italy to 2 wins, a draw, and two defeats on the Six Nations
Menoncello is comparatively unknown on the worldwide scale – he hasn’t but been supplied a boot deal – however his star is rising quickly
Italy loved their best-ever Six Nations and claimed a primary dwelling win in 11 years on the match
After a breakthrough Championship, Menoncello is below the radar not. His back-line energy is proven by the truth that on this yr’s Six Nations, Menoncello averaged 5 metres gained per ahead carry. Within the brutally bodily world of modern-day Take a look at rugby the place ahead momentum is a priceless commodity, such a statistic may be very spectacular.
The swiftness of Menoncello’s rise and the actual fact he’s nonetheless comparatively unknown on a worldwide scale is mirrored by the actual fact he’s nonetheless to be supplied a boot deal. The sponsors will certainly be queuing as much as be related to him now.
His expertise is apparent. Menoncello joined up with Italy’s senior squad to coach when he was simply 17 and earlier than he’d even performed for Benetton.
He made his membership debut at 18 and scored inside 5 minutes. Menoncello’s worldwide bow in opposition to France in 2022 noticed him grow to be Italy’s youngest strive scorer and the youngest to cross the whitewash within the Six Nations. He was simply 19.
His dream is to maneuver to a membership in France’s TOP14 when his Benetton contract expires. Menoncello likes to look at MotoGP and tennis away from rugby. He retains a watch on Juventus’ outcomes however not like the vast majority of teenage Italians, he grew up preferring rugby to soccer.
Now, he’s one among his nation’s sporting stars within the 15-a-side sport simply seven years after he first began going to look at Benetton matches together with his father Michele.
Menoncello’s YouTube highlights reel makes for spectacular viewing.
‘I’m nonetheless solely 21 so I do know I can nonetheless develop extra. I’ll think about myself to enhance’
The Benetton star says he’s stopped within the streets of Treviso by followers and it nonetheless feels ‘uncommon’
‘I’m nonetheless solely 21 so I do know I can nonetheless develop extra. I’ll think about myself to enhance,’ he says. ‘Treviso is among the cities in Italy with probably the most curiosity in rugby. The folks right here cease me on the street and ask for a photograph or a chat. It’s nonetheless a bit uncommon for me however it makes me very comfortable and so proud. It means loads to me to play for Treviso.
‘I’m very proud to be the place I’m now. It’s improbable. It’s actually superb for me to be part of this Italian workforce and play within the Six Nations at such a younger age.
‘I’ve plenty of targets to succeed in and step-by-step, I feel I can attain them. I by no means cease serious about rugby. I simply adore it. My mum has to work exhausting to feed me!’
