Sergio Parisse

Italy's greatest rugby player and record-breaking number eight who captained his country at four World Cups, a transcendent talent whose leadership and class elevated Italian rugby for two decades.

Sergio Parisse is Italy's greatest rugby player and the iconic captain who defined Italian rugby for nearly two decades. A powerhouse number eight with exceptional ball-handling skills, kicking ability, and natural game sense, Parisse was in the conversation for world's best number eight at his peak. Despite playing for a country that rarely contended for honours, his individual performances consistently stood out as world-class.