The prop, born in Genzano di Roma in January 1998, took up rugby relatively late despite his family's ties to the sport. His father, Daniele, played as a winger for Cecchina Rugby, and his brother Marco currently plays as a fly-half and fullback for Fiamme Oro (the sporting arm of the Italian police). Yet, "Fischio" - his most common nickname, though former teammate Giulio Bisegni dubbed him "Cubo Medusa", alternatively known as 'box jellyfish', which he goes by on social media - remains the only specialist in the pack, even though his early days at Garibaldina Rugby in Aprilia saw him playing as an inside centre.
Fischetti's career took him through several clubs, including Lanuvio, Capitolina, and the Italian Rugby Academy, before arriving at Calvisano, where he won the 2019 Italian championship and was voted the league’s best player. His journey continued with stints at Zebre and London Irish, and now he's back with Zebre, reunited with coach Massimo Brunello. The team has already enjoyed early successes, such as their historic win over Munster - the Irish province's first ever loss to the Parma-based team.
“The win against Munster was huge emotionally. We've been working for years for results that too often didn’t come our way. Seeing tangible results now is extra motivation,” says Fischetti. He expressed his appreciation for coach Brunello, noting, "Massimo gives you the right drive. He conveys how much he cares about the team."
Reflecting on the national team's new head coach, Gonzalo Quesada, Fischetti says: “Gonzalo has brought significant energy. He’s a Latin coach, which fits well with our passion for the game and our responsibility to the fans. He’s also introduced a few surprises in our play, which came through in the Six Nations and summer Tests.”
Over the summer, Italy endured a tough loss to Samoa but bounced back with wins against Tonga and Japan. As they look ahead to the Autumn Nations Series, with matches in Udine, Genoa, and Turin, Fischetti stresses that the team isn’t complacent. “We’re happy, but we haven’t arrived yet. We’re still hungry for redemption after the loss to Samoa. We want to show that our success isn’t just luck, but the result of daily hard work and the group’s growth. The aim is to keep building and consolidating what we’ve achieved.”
Fischetti is also aware of the challenges that lie ahead, particularly in the scrum, as Italy prepare to face Argentina, Georgia, and New Zealand - all renowned for their strong packs. “It’s nearly impossible to find an easy match up front in modern rugby. These are three top-class teams. New Zealand made us suffer at the last World Cup, Georgia are 100% committed to the scrum, and Argentina managed to win [scrum] penalties against South Africa in The Rugby Championship. We’ll be focused on executing our game plan and working as a unit of eight, following Moro’s [Italy’s scrum coach, Andrea Moretti] guidance. The goal, even in these tough tests, is always to dominate, and I believe we can do it.”
From his debut in the Guinness Men's Six Nations against Wales in 2020 at the Principality Stadium, Fischetti has come a long way. Despite the challenges of his time with the financially troubled London Irish, his return to Parma has seen him selected as captain of Zebre, competing in the United Rugby Championship and the Challenge Cup. Given his trajectory, it’s easy to foresee a leading role for him with the national team as well.
“Everything that’s happened in my career has helped me," he believes. "Being Zebre’s captain is a bonus, but it’s not something to boast about. I think the national team already has great leaders, selected by the staff and players, and I’m happy with that. My role will be to set the right example."
With 44 caps and many memories, Fischetti reflects on some of his proudest moments. “There are several. One of the best was our first win in Wales in the Six Nations after years without a victory, as well as the home win against Scotland and the triumph over Australia, which was another important milestone.”
On a personal note, he fondly recalls the build-up to last year's Rugby World Cup and the event itself, which he described as unforgettable. For him, it was also a small redemption after being called up during the previous World Cup in Japan, but missing out on playing against the All Blacks due to a match cancellation caused by a typhoon.
Fischetti also observes how the role of the prop has evolved over the years. "The idea that props peak after turning 30 was more connected to the closed scrum, which is a tough area that demands power but also a lot of technique, something that comes with time and experience. Nowadays, I think props are fully formed around 27 or 28. The open game has changed dramatically, and props have become like extra flankers - they carry the ball, run, tackle, and compete at the breakdowns. That’s why the time needed to mature in this position has shortened."
For rugby fans, Danilo Fischetti is seen as a key figure: indispensable, a leader, charismatic, and determined. But how does he see himself? “That’s a tough question, and maybe others should answer it. I think I’m a calm and easy-going person. If I had to pick an adjective, it would probably be ‘simple’. Off the field, I enjoy motorsports - Formula 1 and MotoGP - as well as football. I’m a huge Roma fan. I also like playing tennis, though I’m not very good, and I usually play with Pierre Bruno.”
Italy's Autumn Nations Series 2024 campaign:*
Italy v Argentina, Saturday 9th November, 17:40
Italy v Georgia, Sunday 17th November, 13:40
Italy v New Zealand, Saturday 23rd November, 20:10
*all times GMT