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 degree for the brand new famous person of the Italian recreation.
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 outstanding comeback from damage.
He’s already a shining mild in an Azzurri aspect which is now trying in direction of what they are going to hope shall be a brilliant 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 recreation, 21, got here again from damage and an operation to take the Six Nations by storm
Menoncello (third from proper) has the date of his first Check strive for Italy tattooed on his chest – February 5, 2022 – in addition to a lion on his proper arm
‘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 Check strive for Italy tattooed on my chest – February 5, 2022 – towards France.
‘This award is a large factor for me after the damage I had as a result of that was a very tough interval.
‘Everyone thought it could be very laborious for me to come back 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 large shock.’
Menoncello would possibly quickly begin working out of room if he marks every of his rugby achievements with some commemorative art work as there’ll certainly be way more for him to rejoice sooner or later.
Not a lot was identified of Menoncello outdoors of Italy earlier than the beginning of the 12 months.
However his extraordinary performances in what was statistically the nation’s finest Six Nations by way of 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 recreation,’ Menoncello provides, switching between his native Italian and English in spectacular style.
He’s the youngest participant to ever win the award and has known as their latest success a brand new ‘begin’ for Italian rugby
Menoncello is simply the second Azzurri participant to win the Championship’s coveted particular person award
On his left arm, he has the quantity 717 inked, as a result of he was the 717th participant to play for his nation
‘He’s the participant I take plenty of inspiration from. Sooner or later I need to enhance my potential to dump and in addition my kicking recreation. I used to play prop. It was a very long time in the past – after I began rugby within the Below-12’s. They put me there for one season however I didn’t prefer it!’
Menoncello is contemporary confronted and nonetheless extremely younger, however he already possesses the type 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 perfect interval for Italian rugby for a very long time,’ says Menoncello, who was born and raised in Treviso and nonetheless lives at house along 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. Certainly one of our targets this 12 months was to point out what we will do, particularly after the World Cup which resulted in not the easiest way. For us, this can be a begin.
‘Within the subsequent Six Nations we need to do even higher. We need to hold successful for the following few years.‘
It was one among our targets for the Six Nations to try to encourage the Italian folks and promote out the Stadio Olimpico. We did it. Now we need to try to encourage extra folks and develop rugby in Italy.’
He named heavyweight boxer and former New Zealand rugby star Sonny Invoice Williams as his inspiration
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 provided a boot deal – however his star is rising quickly
Italy loved their best-ever Six Nations and claimed a primary house win in 11 years on the match
After a breakthrough Championship, Menoncello is beneath the radar now not. His back-line energy is proven by the truth that on this 12 months’s Six Nations, Menoncello averaged 5 metres gained per ahead carry. Within the brutally bodily world of modern-day Check rugby the place ahead momentum is a priceless commodity, such a statistic could be very spectacular.
The swiftness of Menoncello’s rise and the actual fact he’s nonetheless comparatively unknown on a world scale is mirrored by the actual fact he’s nonetheless to be provided 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 towards France in 2022 noticed him turn into 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 observe MotoGP and tennis away from rugby. He retains a watch on Juventus’ outcomes however in contrast to 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 recreation simply seven years after he first began going to observe Benetton matches along 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 focus on 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 focus on 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 quite a bit to me to play for Treviso.
‘I’m very proud to be the place I’m now. It’s improbable. It’s actually wonderful for me to be part of this Italian crew and play within the Six Nations at such a younger age.
‘I’ve plenty of targets to succeed in and step-by-step, I believe I can attain them. I by no means cease eager about rugby. I simply find it irresistible. My mum has to work laborious to feed me!’