Giambattista Croci (born 28 July 1965) is an Italian former rugby union player. He played as a lock.

Career

Croci first played at Sambenedettese, appearing at the first team at 1983/84, at the Serie C. During a stint at Interforze di Napoli, during his military service, he was noticed and assigned for

Rugby Rovigo Rugby Rovigo Delta, formerly known until 2010 as Rugby Rovigo, is an Italian rugby union club currently competing in the Top10 (rugby union), Serie A Élite. They are based in Rovigo, in Veneto. Overview The club was founded in 1935 by medical ...

, in 1988/89. The apex of his team career was achieved at

Amatori Rugby Milano Amatori Rugby Milano were an Italian rugby union team based in Milan founded in 1927 and disbanded in 2011. Founded in 1927 as part of the association football, football team F.C. Internazionale Milano, Ambrosiana-Inter of Milan, the club won ...

, where he played from 1989/90 to 1997/98, winning 4 Italian Championship titles, in 1990/91, 1992/93, 1994/95 and 1995/96, and the Cup of Italy in 1994/95. His final team was

Rugby Calvisano Rugby Calvisano is an Italian rugby union club currently competing in the Top12. They are based in Calvisano (Province of Brescia), in Lombardy. They were founded in 1970 by a group of players: Tonino Montanari, Gianluigi Vaccari and Alfredo Ga ...

, from 1998/99 to 1999/2000, where he finished his career, aged 34 years old. Croci had 24 caps for

Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...

, scoring 3 tries, in an aggregate of 13 points. His first game was on 30 September 1990, in a 30–6 win over

Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...

, in

Rovigo Rovigo (, ; ) is a city and communes of Italy, commune in the region of Veneto, Northeast Italy, the capital of the province of Rovigo, eponymous province. Geography Rovigo stands on the low ground known as Polesine, by rail southwest of Veni ...

, for the

1991 Rugby World Cup The 1991 Rugby World Cup () was the second edition of the Rugby World Cup, and was jointly hosted by England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and France: at the time, the five European countries who participated in the Six Nations Championship, Five Na ...

qualifiers. He was called for the 1991 Rugby World Cup, playing in all three games, but never scoring. He was called once more for the

1995 Rugby World Cup The 1995 Rugby World Cup (), was the third Rugby World Cup. It was hosted and won by South Africa, and was the first Rugby World Cup in which every match was held in one country. The World Cup was the first major sporting event to take place in ...

but this time he didn't play. He was a decisive player in the historic 40–32 win over

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

Grenoble Grenoble ( ; ; or ; or ) is the Prefectures in France, prefecture and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of the Isère Departments of France, department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Regions of France, region ...

, that gave Italy their first ever title of the 1995–1997 FIRA Trophy, scoring the third try at 56 minutes at a moment in which the game was levelled 20-20. Italian journalist Corrado Sanucci described it as the try that "brought Italian rugby from local soil to consecrate it at the BBC". Croci's last game for Italy was at the 23–20 loss to

Wales Wales ( ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the England–Wales border, east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic ...

, on 7 February 1998, in

Llanelli ; ) is a market town and community (Wales), community in Carmarthenshire and the Preserved counties of Wales, preserved county of Dyfed, Wales. It is on the estuary of the River Loughor and is the largest town in the Principal areas of Wales, ...

, in a tour, aged 32 years old.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Croci, Giambattista 1965 births Living people Italian rugby union players Italy international rugby union players Rugby Rovigo Delta players Amatori Rugby Milano players Rugby Calvisano players Rugby union locks Sportspeople from San Benedetto del Tronto 1991 Rugby World Cup players 1995 Rugby World Cup players