Massimo Cuttitta
A rock of the Italian scrum whose leadership as captain helped forge the nation's identity in the fierce arena of Five Nations rugby.
Born 1966 (age 60)·Italy international rugby union footballer·Birthday: September 2·Generation X
Biography
Massimo Cuttitta was not just a prop; he was part of the architectural steel that allowed Italian rugby to stand tall against established European powers. Alongside his twin brother Marcello, he formed one of the sport's most famous sibling acts, with Massimo anchoring the scrum from the tighthead side. His career peaked during Italy's entry into the Five Nations Championship (now the Six Nations) in 2000, a period where his experience and grit were vital. Cuttitta's 69 caps for Italy were a testament to his durability and importance in the front row, a position where every match is a physical war. After hanging up his boots, he dedicated himself to coaching, passing on the dark arts of scrummaging to new players, ensuring his hard-won knowledge continued to benefit the game he helped elevate in his country.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Massimo was born in 1966, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Massimo Was Born
The biggest hits of 1966
#1 Movie
The Bible: In the Beginning
Best Picture
A Man for All Seasons
#1 TV Show
Bonanza
Massimo's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1966Born
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1971Started school
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1979Became a teenager
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1982Could drive
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1984Could vote
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1987Turned 21
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1996Turned 30
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2006Turned 40
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 50
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 60
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Captained the Italian national rugby team during a pivotal era in the late 1990s.
- Earned 69 caps for Italy, playing a key role as a prop forward.
- Was part of the Italian squad that joined the Five Nations Championship in 2000, marking its entry into elite European competition.
Did You Know?
He was the twin brother of fellow Italian international rugby player Marcello Cuttitta.
He played his club rugby for several top European sides, including Harlequins in England.
After his playing career, he worked as a scrum coach for the Scottish Rugby Union and other teams.
“The scrum is where you earn the right to play rugby.”
