Scotland legend played key role in Sergio Parisse’s return to Italy
Sergio Parisse is set to join Italy as their new forwards coach, primarily leading the lineout ahead of their inaugural Nations Championship campaign.
The Italian legend will see out the season with Toulon, in the same role, to join up with the nation that he won 142 caps with throughout his career.
Parisse will link up with his former Stade Français head coach Gonzalo Quesada, who is the current Azzurri boss, with whom the pair won the TOP 14 title and Challenge Cup.
It appears that the Italian legend is excited by the chance to link up with Quesada, as he mentioned in an official statement.
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Parisse said: “Returning to Italy and being able to contribute from within FIR to the growth of the national team and the entire rugby movement in my country is an extraordinary opportunity.
“I am happy to be able to do it alongside a coach with whom I worked during my years as a player at Stade Francais and of whom I have deep respect, such as Gonzalo Quesada, becoming part of a high-level staff and with the possibility of making myself available to a group of athletes with great potential and a great work ethic.”
However, while he now speaks of his desire and eagerness to work with Italy, it appears he took a bit of convincing, as he has expressed to Planet Rugby.
It’s been a year-long courtship from Quesada’s part, with the Italian head coach initially reaching out in December 2024, but Parisse was not ready to make the move as he wanted to gain more experience as a coach, and he wanted to honour his contract with Toulon.
The Italian legend sought the advice of another major figure in the game before making his decision, Gregor Townsend.
Parisse has now explained how he went to the Scotland head coach for advice before agreeing to return to Italy, but this time as a coach.
Townsend will know the pressures of being a legendary figure returning to the nation they represented so impressively as a coach and just how daunting it can be due to fan anticipation along with the important transition of going from a club to an international coach.
The Italian legend said: “Gregor explained to me that Test rugby is a different game from a coach’s lens.
“He reminded me you have a lot more time to think about things. You’re coaching ten to twelve games a year as opposed to twenty-eight to thirty-six in the Top 14.
“So, you really have time to develop your own learning and the learning of the players around you.
“You need a lot more detail, and it’s very much about quality over quantity, something that appeals to me.
“I have always obsessed over skill and mental detail, and this gives me a chance to develop that further. It’ll be very full-on, very intense, but throughout my career, I’ve always been somebody that wanted to improve my knowledge and really wanted to understand.”
Topics: Rugby, Rugby Union
Brendan McGilligan