At just 22, Italian back-rower Ross Vintcent has had an unusual yet extraordinary path into professional rugby, quickly becoming one of the hottest young prospects in both Premiership Rugby and for Italy. Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Vintcent’s journey across continents and cultures has shaped him into a versatile and dynamic player.
When Vintcent was three, his family relocated to Dubai. This is where his passion for rugby ignited, starting his rugby journey with Arabian Knights Rugby Club. When reflecting on his childhood, Vintcent recalls how Dubai, with its blend of cultures and a bustling sports scene, nurtured his love for rugby. “I enjoyed being outdoors and throwing a ball around. It was my most exciting time of the week, a Saturday night rugby session!”
Aged just 15, and after two years of persuading his parents, Vintcent made a life-changing decision to move to Cape Town, where he attended the prestigious Bishops Diocesan College – an institution renowned for producing top rugby talent such as Francois Louw and, more recently, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Suleiman Hartzenberg. “I went to the U16 trials, and the fly-half was Sacha, so I was in and out of the first team as a utility back. When watching Sacha even from age 16, you knew he was going to be a Springbok.”
Curiously, Vintcent was anything but a back row during his school days. He experimented across the backline. “I was actually playing scrum-half,” he recalls. “I’d played a bit of fly-half, bit of centre.” This all changed when a coach asked if he wanted to try out the back row. “I thought, yeah, let’s do it.” His first game in the back row was against world-renowned rugby school Paarl Gym, but the Covid pandemic soon put a halt to the season.
When the pandemic in 2020 brought the world to a standstill, Vintcent had a chat with Tom Negri, brother of Italian teammate Sebastian Negri, that would change the course of his life. The decision was made to explore his maternal grandfather’s Italian heritage, and a few months later, with an Italian passport in hand, Vintcent found himself in Remedello, Italy. “I was thrown straight into the big bad world, as an adult. I managed to make some South African friends which was good. It was a tough time at the start.”
Italy welcomed Vintcent into their rugby fold, naming him in the Italian Rugby Federation Academy for the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons. This period included a loan spell at Zebre Rugby, making three appearances in the United Rugby Championship (URC). Reflecting on his decision to represent Italy, he says: “They had invested in me when they didn’t have much to go on, gave me a chance, and I feel like I should reciprocate that; giving back to them as much as they gave me.”
Life in Italy wasn’t without its challenges. Vintcent, just 18 years old, had to adapt quickly to a new culture and language, all while learning a new position on the rugby field. Of his time in Remedello, he says: “That was tough to get my head around, being so far from home in a place you didn’t know the language, and didn’t have many friends. I had to quickly get over that.” What was harder: learning a new language or a new position? “I had never been up in a lineout before. Mirco Spagnolo was one of the lifters. He launched me so high and I s**t myself! My legs went everywhere.”
His time in Remedello proved pivotal to his development. In 2022 he went on to make his professional debut at 19 for Zebre against Cardiff in Round 12 of the URC.
Vintcent’s next step was the Italian Under-20 squad, which saw him compete in Six Nations U20 competitions from 2021-2022. During these campaigns, and regardless of his developing understanding of the Italian language, he was chosen to captain the Italian side and led them to historic victories, including a win over England. His performances on the international stage set the tone for what was to come.
What’s it like captaining a team when you struggle to speak the language? “It was hard. By the time it came to the team talks, I could string a few sentences together for a speech. It’s not eloquent Italian, but it managed to get the message through to the boys”.
Off the field, Vintcent wanted more. In September 2022, after previously deferring his special offer, the flanker headed to Exeter University with the ambition of securing his degree in business economics and a place on Exeter’s university side which competes in British Universities and College Sport (BUCS) Super Rugby.
His performances at university level caught the attention of Exeter Chiefs, who liked the all-action flanker with pace to burn - much like his Chiefs predecessor Sam Simmonds. Vintcent alongside his studies had been working as a Domino’s delivery driver, to make ends meet. His delivery driver side hustle would have to take a break, as he went on to make his Chiefs debut in a Premiership Rugby Cup clash away to Bristol Bears in September 2022. “It was a surreal experience to play at a place like Ashton Gate. I also got the chance to play against my current housemate [Dylan Power], who plays at Bristol Bears, which was a cool moment.”
The 2023/24 season was Vintcent’s breakout year. Playing 25 times for the Chiefs across all competitions, he crossed the try line 10 times, solidifying his reputation as a rising star, all whilst juggling his studies. How would he advise a young player trying to find the balance between a rising rugby career and their studies? “Rugby is so intense and anything you can do to take your mind off rugby and spend your energy and focus on something else helps to clear your head,” he suggests. “This helps my performance when it’s time to switch into rugby mode”.
His eye-catching performances didn’t go unnoticed among international selectors, and his hard work was rewarded when he was named on the bench for Italy’s 2024 Guinness Men’s Six Nations round two fixture against Ireland. Vintcent came off the bench in the 68th minute to win his first international senior cap. “Looking up at a packed and steep Aviva Stadium stand, it looked never-ending. During the Irish anthem, I couldn’t help but hum along, it’s such a catchy tune and everyone was singing it.
“My nerves were under control, it was just pure excitement of wanting to get on. The noise of 56,000 people when Ireland made a break would just resonate through your body.”
Vintcent was handed his first international start, at number eight, in Italy’s round three clash with France. It was Italy’s encounter in the next round against Scotland where he truly made his mark, playing a crucial role in the Azzurris’ historic win, “Players were so emotional after the game, we didn’t realise the gravity of what we had done until we saw the reaction of the fans and some of the older guys in the team".
He closed out his first Championship with a 24-21 win over Wales at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, where he produced one of the greatest try-saving tackles of the competition. His meteoric rise continued during the summer tours, where he scored his first international try against Japan. He has since signed a contract extension with Exeter Chiefs, solidifying his future with the club.
Looking ahead to the 2024 Autumn Nations Series on the horizon, what does he hope the campaign will bring for the Azzurri? “I would love to be involved. Following a relatively successful Six Nations and summer tour, this is a great opportunity to prove to other nations and the world that this is a team and country that deserves to be in the top six in the world.”
Italy will host New Zealand at the Allianz Stadium, Turin, home of football giants Juventus. With this being the first time the stadium hosts a rugby match, Vintcent is up for the challenge and excited to take the sport to a new demographic. “Playing in such a historic sporting theatre would be an unreal experience, made even more special playing against the All Blacks”.
We saw some eye-catching performances from Itay in the 2024 Guinness Men’s Six Nations, with victories over Scotland and Wales, and a win denied at the death against France in dramatic fashion. What should fans expect from Italy looking forward to the 2025 edition of the Championship? “You will see a team who genuinely believes they can win the Six Nations,” he answers confidently. “We are not the wooden spoon holders any more - we are there to compete. We are a young team, but we have a lot of experience within the group.”
Outside of rugby, Ross leads a multifaceted life. He’s gone from being a Domino’s delivery driver to now being a portfolio manager with Exter University’s AI Fund. We asked him if Dominos had lost their most decorated delivery drive ever. “Dominos is no longer. I’ve been a bit too busy with uni and rugby!”
The future is bright for Ross Vintcent, and Chiefs and Italian fans have much to look forward to from this impressive young man.
