Tito Lupini (12 November 1955 – 23 July 2021) was a South African-born Italian rugby union player who played as a prop.
Biography
Born and raised in South Africa by Italian parents, Lupini as a player represented the provincial team of
Golden Lions. After the appointment of former
Springboks coach
Nelie Smith for
Rugby Rovigo, he moved to Italy in 1985 and played for Rovigo, in whose first row constituted a key element (also being Captain of the team) for the achievement of two national titles (1988 and 1990), alongside fellow south africans
Naas Botha and
Gert Smal. In the 1989–90 season, won by Rovigo, Lupini had the double role of player and coach. During his time in Italy, he helped Rovigo reaching the final twice (1989 and 1992), the semifinal (1991) and a quarter final (1993). The Smith-Lupini-Botha-Smal era is still fondly remembered in
Rovigo, the most rugby addicted city in Italy, for the impact it had in ending a 9 years winning drought for the team.
Lupini died from COVID-19-related complications on 23 July 2021. His mother died within 24 hours of him, also of the virus.[ SupaRugby]
International career
Debuting for the Italian national team in the 1985-87 FIRA Trophy against Romania at Constanţa, Socialist Republic of Romania, Lupini was called up by the then-coach
Marco Bollesan in the roster which took part in the first edition of the Rugby World Cup, playing all the three matches where Italy played.
Coaching career
After his retirement from the playing career in 1992,
Lupini started his coaching career, coaching Rovigo, leading the team to the final for the national championship (then lost) against
Benetton Rugby in 1992. He also coached the forwards for the Namibia national team and the same role for Rovigo.
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