Italy Player Biographies

Following are brief biographies of the Italian World Cup squad (ages correct at start of tournament):

MASSIMO MACIOLETTI (coach). Took over from Frenchman Georges Coste in June following Italy's poor tour of South Africa. Has been in charge for three matches -- against Uruguay, Spain and Fiji in a round-robin tournament. Previously worked as Coste's assistant for three years. As a player, made league debut at 15 and was playing for Italy at 19. Capped 54 times at wing and centre between 1977-90 and captained side between 1983-85. Played at the 1987 World Cup.

MATTHEW PINI. Fullback. Age 30. Height 1.81 metres. Weight 85 kg. Caps: Five. Canberra-born, started life in Australian rules before switching to rugby. Played for the Wallabies eight times between 1993-95. Took advantage of family roots in Lombardy to switch to Italy and made debut in World Cup qualifiers last year. Plays for Narbonne in France.

PAOLO VACCARI. Wing. Age 28. 1.81 metres. 91 kg. Caps: 51. Student. Rated the best winger in Italy since making 1991 debut against Namibia. Scored a try in each of Italy's matches during 1995 World Cup. Has 21 international tries. Also been successful at centre. One of a handful of Italians to have played for the Barbarians.

FABIO ROSELLI. Wing. Age 28. 1.76 metres. 85 kg. Caps: 15. Student. Rome-born, has played for home city club all his career, chalking up over 150 Serie A appearances. Debut against France in 1995.

NICOLA MAZZUCATO. Wing. Age 23. 1.87 metres. 94 kg. Caps: Five. Architecture student. Played for Padova University side before making debut against Springboks in 1995. Missed 1997-98 season through injury before returning this year.

NICHOLAS ZISTI. Wing/centre. Age 27. 1.86 metres. 99 kg. Caps: None. Called up to squad for World Cup warm-up matches in August.

CRISTIAN STOICA. Centre. Age 23. 1.88 metres. 100 kg. Caps: 17. Born in Bucharest. Nicknamed 'Gypsy.' Caught the eye of former coach Georges Coste in 1997 after just six Serie A appearances for Milan. Now plays in France with Narbonne.

SANDRO CEPPOLINI. Centre. Age 25. 1.84 metres. 89 kg. Caps: Three. One of a cluster of young players to emerge from Italy's pre-World Cup tournament, playing in all three matches against Uruguay, Spain and Fiji.

LUCA MARTIN. Centre. Age 25. 1.86 metres. 89 kg. Caps: 16. Started as scrumhalf before switch to centre, winning first cap at 1997 Latin Cup. Also can play wing. Scored two tries against Scotland and one against Wales last season. Plays in France for Begles Bordeaux.

DIEGO DOMINGUEZ. Flyhalf. Age 33. 1.73 metres. 76 kg. Caps: 53. Once of Argentina, turned his back on the Pumas in the 1980s because of 'amateurs only' policy. Made debut against France in 1991 at centre. Switched to flyhalf and was the Italian mainstay at last two World Cups. Captained Stade Francais to French title last year. Recently kicked his 100th conversion and has scored 728 points in internationals.

FRANCESCO MAZZARIOL. Flyhalf/centre. Age 24. 1.73 metres. 77 kg. Caps: 14. Student. Followed his father and uncle into the Benetton Treviso side and from there to the Italy team in 1995. Has played right across the backline but prefers flyhalf. May inherit the role from Dominguez when the latter retires.

ANDREA SCANAVACCA. Flyhalf. Age 26. 1.76 metres. 80 kg. Caps: 1. Made debut against Uruguay in August.

ALESSANDRO TRONCON. Scrumhalf. Age 26. 1.78 metres. 86 kg. Caps: 43. Live-wire number nine who started career with Benetton Treviso. Made debut against Spain in 1994 as substitute for the late Ivan Francescato. Has played 30 internationals in tandem with Dominguez. Plays for French club Montferrand.

GIAMPIERO MAZZI. Scrumhalf/flyhalf. Age 24 (25 on October 14). 1.72 metres. 76 kg. Caps: Five. Information analyst. Born in Frascati near Rome, made debut against Netherlands in World Cup qualifiers.

CARLO CHECCHINATO. Number eight/lock. Age 29. 1.97 metres. 110 kg. Caps: 48. Insurance salesman. Regular in the side throughout 1990s. Played for home town club Rovigo until 1995 when fine World Cup performances earned him transfer to Treviso. Father Giancarlo also played for Italy.

ORAZIO ARANCIO. Flanker. Age 31. 1.90 metres. 108 kg. Caps: 32. Sicilian who made his debut against Russia in Moscow in 1993. Fixture in the Italian pack during 1995 World Cup. Played in France for Toulon before returning to Italy. Had operation on right knee ligaments in August.

MAURO BERGAMASCO. Flanker. Age 20. 1.83 metres. 93 kg. Caps: Three. Studying to be physical education teacher. Versatile newcomer who has previously played at centre, flyhalf and scrumhalf. Made debut against Netherlands in World Cup qualifier and has captained Italy under-21s. Father Arturo won four caps in the 1970s.

CARLO CAIONE. Flanker. Age 26. 1.87 metres. 100 kg. Caps: 11. Qualified orthodontist. Made name at L'Aquila in early 1990s under current national coach Macioletti. Italy debut in 1995 against Romania. Former captain of Italy A side, played against English and Dutch in World Cup qualifiers last year.

MASSIMO GIOVANELLI (captain). Flanker. Age 32. 1.85 metres. 105 kg. Caps: 56. Charismatic captain who made debut in 1989 while playing for unfashionable Noceto. Played in 1991 World Cup but missed 1995 tournament due to car crash which kept him out for 16 months. Captained the side 34 times. Played at French sides Narbonne and Puc before returning to Italy this season.

ANDREA DE ROSSI. Flanker. Age 27. 1.83 metres. 103 kg. Caps: Two. Plumber. Made debut against Uruguay in August.

WALTER CRISTOFOLETTO. Lock. Age 35. 1.90 metres. 110 kg. Caps: 27. Office worker. The oldest member of the squad. Started career at hometown club Benetton Treviso and made national debut against Romania in 1992. Not selected for last World Cup but a regular since 1996. Known to team mates as 'Cristo' (Christ).

MARK GIACHERI. Lock. Age 30. 2.01 metres. 115 kg. Caps: 29. Born in Australia and learned the game in Sydney. Moved to Italy and made debut in 1992. Out of favour between 1996-98 due to injuries and brief spell in Australia. Plays for Brive.

LAURENT TRAVINI. Lock/number eight. Age 27. 1.92 metres. 105 kg. Caps: Four. Hospital worker. Plays for French club Dax. Born in France of Italian parents. Made debut during humiliating tour of South Africa in June.

ANDREA CASTELLANI. Prop. Age 27. 1.90 metres. 115 kg. Caps: 18. Another former member of Macioletti's L'Aquila side and, like his friend Caione, a practising orthodontist. Made debut in 104-8 defeat of the Czech Republic in 1995 World Cup qualifier.

FRANCO PROPERZI CURTI. Prop. Age 33. 1.88 metres. 120 kg. Caps: 48. Computer programmer. Hugely experienced, born in India and followed his father Gianfranco into the L'Aquila side. The heartbeat of the pack since debut against Poland in 1990. Leading light in Benetton Treviso side which has won Italian title for past three years.

PAOLO PUCCIARIELLO. Prop. Age 24. 1.75 metres. 107 kg. Caps: Two. Born in Argentina of Italian parents, played provincial rugby in South America before establishing himself at Parma. Excellent performances in World Cup warm-up tournament in August.

STEFANO SAVIOZZI. Prop. Age 24. 1.85 metres. 100 kg. Caps: Eight. Started career at Livorno before transferring to Benetton Treviso where won first cap last year. Can play hooker.

ANDREA LO CICERO. Prop. Age 23. 1.83 metres. 110 kg. Caps: None. Played for Italy A.

ALESSANDRO MORENO. Prop. Age 24. 1.83 metres. 114 kg. Caps: None. Argentine-born prop who started career playing in Buenos Aires and at Rio Negro before moving to Italy.

ANDREA MORETTI. Hooker. Age 26. 1.78 metres. 98 kg. Caps: Four. Student. Tenacious player who has featured at Mantova, Viadana and Padova. Made debut against Romania in 1997 Latin Cup.

ALESSANDRO MOSCARDI. Hooker. Age 30. 1.85 metres. 100 kg. Caps: 14. Soon to complete architecture degree. Won 1990 Italian league title as flanker with hometown Rovigo and made Italy debut against Portugal three years later. Moved to Treviso in 1996.

Reuters contributed to this report.