Leonardo Ghiraldini

Leonardo Ghiraldini (born 26 December 1984) is an Italian international rugby union player, currently unattached he has played in France's Top 14 for Toulouse and England's Premiership Rugby for Leicester Tigers. Ghiraldini's position of choice is hooker.

Leonardo Ghiraldini
Ghiraldini in 2016
Birth nameLeonardo Lorenzo Ghiraldini
Date of birth (1984-12-26) 26 December 1984
Place of birthPadua, Italy
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight103 kg (16 st 3 lb; 227 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Hooker
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2003–2005
2005–2008
2009–2014
2014−2016
2016–2019
2020		 Petrarca
Calvisano
Benetton Treviso
Leicester Tigers
Toulouse
Bordeaux Bègles		 19
71
70
29
52		 (5)
(15)
(20)
(0)
(20)
Correct as of October 2016
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2005–2007
2006–		 Italy A
Italy		 3
104		 (0)
(30)
Correct as of 18 September 2019

Club career

Ghiraldini began his career with Petrarca Rugby in his home town of Padua before moving to Rugby Calvisano in 2005 where, as captain, he won the Super 10 (now Top12) in 2008 and was a runner-up with them in 2006. In 2009, Ghiraldini moved to Benetton Treviso, which joined the Celtic League in 2010.

On 21 May 2014, Ghiraldini moved to England to join Leicester Tigers in the Aviva Premiership from the 2014-15 season.[1] In December 2015, Ghiraldini joined top French club Toulouse in the Top 14 on a three-year deal.[2]

International career

Ghiraldini played for the Italian U-18, U-19 and U-21 teams before playing for the Italy A Team. He was regarded as one of Italian rugby's stars of the future.

Ghiraldini played his first international game against Japan during Italy's 2006 summer tour. Ghiraldini was in the Italian squad for the 2007 Six Nations Championship and the 2007 Rugby World Cup, he made his World Cup debut against Portugal. He was in the Italy squad for the 2008 Six Nations Championship, playing as starting hooker in all five games of the tournament.[3]

For the 2010 Six Nations Championship, Ghiraldini was named Italian captain after Sergio Parisse was ruled out of the tournament with an injury.[4]

Honours

Calvisano
  • Super 10 winner (1): 2008. runner-up (1): 2006
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References
  1. "Leicester Tigers sign Italy hooker Leonardo Ghiraldini from Benetton Treviso". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
  2. "Italy hooker Leonardo Ghiraldini agrees to join Toulouse". Sky Sports. 18 December 2015. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  3. "Parisse handed Italy captaincy". BBC. 23 January 2008. Retrieved 2 February 2008.
  4. "Mallett turns to Ghiraldini". Sky Sports. 29 January 2010. Retrieved 3 February 2010.
Preceded by
Sergio Parisse		 Italy Captain
2010–present		 Succeeded by
Incumbent
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