Alessandro Fusco

Alessandro Fusco (born 28 October 1999) is an Italian professional rugby union player who primarily plays scrum-half for Zebre Parma in the United Rugby Championship. He has also represented Italy at international level, having made his test debut against Argentina during the 2021 Autumn Nations Series. Fusco has previously played for clubs such as Fiamme Oro in the past.^[1][2][3]

Alessandro Fusco

Date of birth	(1999-10-28) 28 October 1999 (age 23)
Place of birth	Napoli, Italy
Height	185 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight	90 kg (198 lb; 14 st 2 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Scrum-half Current team Zebre Parma Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2019–2021 Fiamme Oro 19 (18) 2020–2021 → Zebre Parma (loan) 3 (0) 2021– Zebre Parma 18 (10) Correct as of 6 November 2022 National team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 2018–2019 Italy U20 14 (10) 2021– Italy 13 (10) Correct as of 18 Mar 2023

Fusco is the great-grandson of Elio Fusco, a 1960s Neapolitan rugby icon who played eleven times for Italy and coached the storied Partenope, winners of the Top10 in 1965 and 1966. His grandfather was an Italian rugby player as well.^[4]

Professional career

Fusco has previously played for clubs such as Fiamme Oro in the past. For the end of 2019–20 Pro14 season and for 2020–21 Pro14 season, Fusco was named as Permit Player for Zebre.^[5][6] He made his Zebre debut in Round 6 of the 2020–21 Pro14 against Munster.^[7]

In 2018 and 2019, Fusco was named in the Italy Under 20 squad. On the 31 October 2021, he was selected by Kieran Crowley to be part of an Italy 34-man squad for the 2021 end-of-year rugby union internationals. He made his debut against Argentina.^[8]

In 2022, Fusco became the first person from Naples to play in the Six Nations, when replacing Stephen Varney in Italy's loss to England.^[9]

Fusco was named in Kieran Crowley's 33-man squad for the 2022 end-of-year rugby union internationals.^[10]

References

1. "Alessandro Fusco". Ultimate Rugby. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
2. "Alessandro Fusco". Zebre Parma.
3. "I DUE ATLETI DELLE FIAMME ORO RUGBY ALESSANDRO FUSCO E CRISTIAN STOIAN AGGIUNGONO QUALITÀ ALLA ROSA DELLE ZEBRE RUGBY". Zebre Rugby (in Italian). 2 August 2021. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
4. Napolista (2021-11-05). "Un altro Fusco nella nazionale di rugby: Alessandro continua la storia del grande Elio". ilNapolista (in Italian). Retrieved 2022-05-31.
5. "LE ZEBRE RUGBY DANNO IL BENTORNATO A CINQUE PERMIT PLAYERS PROVENIENTI DAL MASSIMO CAMPIONATO ITALIANO" (in Italian). Zebre. 17 June 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
6. "Cincque Giovani debuttanti nella formazione delle Zebre scelte per la sfida col Munster". Zebre (in Italian). 29 November 2020. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
7. "Munster 52-3 Zebre: Irish province extend lead at top of Pro14 Conference B". BBC Sport. 30 November 2020. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
8. "ITALRUGBY, GLI AZZURRI CONVOCATI PER LE AUTUMN NATIONS SERIES". Italy Rugby Union (in Italian). 31 October 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
9. "Sei Nazioni 2022, Alessandro Fusco è il primo napoletano a prendervi parte". www.ilmattino.it (in Italian). 2022-01-19. Retrieved 2022-05-31.
10. May 2022, Frank Nickson Tuesday 31. "Italy confirm squad for summer series". Talking Rugby Union. Retrieved 2022-05-31.

External links

• Alessandro Fusco at ESPNscrum 
• Alessandro Fusco at ItsRugby.co.uk