Fabio Ongaro
Birth date23 September 1977 (age 49)
Birth placeMestre
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight229 lb (104 kg)
Amatyears 11988–1995
Amatteam 1Casale
Years 11995–1998
Years 21998–2006
Years 32006–2010
Years 42010–2012
Clubs 1Casale
Clubs 2Benetton Treviso
Clubs 3Saracens
Clubs 4Aironi
Apps 132
Apps 2118
Apps 340
Apps 434
Points 115
Points 260
Points 35
Points 40
Repyears 12000–2012
Repcaps 180
Reppoints 125
Ru ntupdate20 November 2011

Fabio Ongaro (born 23 September 1977 in Venice) is an Italian rugby union footballer. Although he now plays as a hooker, he played in the Italian youth teams as a flanker.

Career

Ongaro first played for Rugby Casale (1994/95-1997/98), spending the most prolific time of his career at Benetton Treviso (1998/99-2005/06), where he won 5 Italian Championships (1998/99, 2000/01, 2002/03, 2003/04 and 2005/06), a Cup of Italy (2004/05) and a Supercup (2006). He moved to Saracens, in England, where he played from 2006/07 to 2009/10. He has played for Aironi since 2010/11.[1]

Ongaro won his first cap in 2000 when the Azzurri played against Canada in Rovigo, in a 17–22 loss. Ongaro played every match for Italy in the 2003 World Cup. He scored the crucial try that helped beat Scotland 20–14 in Rome in the 2004 Six Nations Championship. His rise to the top peaked in November 2004 when he was named as Italy captain in place of the injured Marco Bortolami. He played 2 matches at the 2007 Rugby World Cup. He has been a regular player at the Six Nations since 2003. He played his last international match for Italy against Scotland on 17 March 2012.[2]

Coaching career

Ongaro became Assistant Coach at Benetton Treviso from the start of the 2016/17 season and until 2024/25 season.[3]

Doping allegations

In 2003 Ongaro, alongside fellow international Gianluca Faliva, had been accused of having made use of Epoetin beta (NeoRecormon) for doping purposes.[4][5] In 2009 the trial was concluded with a sentence of absolution for Faliva and Ongaro, as no proof of either of them using or detaining the doping substance could be presented.[6]

References

  1. ^ "Northlondon-today.co.uk"
  2. ^ "Official RBS 6 Nations Rugby : Venditti try edges Italy past Scotland". Archived from the original on 2012-05-02. Retrieved 2012-03-17.
  3. ^ "Fabio ongaro"
  4. ^ Eugenio Capodacqua (2003-04-17). "Doping substance found (in Italian)". Repubblica. Retrieved 2009-08-17.
  5. ^ Giuseppe Guastella & Giuseppe Toti (2003-04-17). "Doping blitz made by the Police (in Italian)". Corriere della Sera. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
  6. ^ "Trial closed (in Italian)". Associazione Italiana Rugbysti. 2009-07-01. Archived from the original on 2011-07-22. Retrieved 2009-08-17.