Rugby player, 15, dies in horror car crash as death 'a wound for the whole city', tell me about this news in (https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/breaking-rugby-player-15-dies-37672334)
17-09-2026
The article reports on the tragic death of 15-year-old Italian rugby prospect Ruggero Canocchi following a car crash in L’Aquila, Italy.
Key details from the report include:
The Incident: Shortly after 7:00 PM on Monday, September 14, Ruggero was driving home from rugby training near the Arcobaleno Sports Centre. He was driving a restricted mini-car (which 14- and 15-year-olds can legally drive in Italy at speeds capped around 28 mph). For reasons being investigated by traffic police, he lost control of the vehicle, crossed to the other side of the road, and crashed into a tree.
Medical Efforts: Ruggero remained conscious at the scene and spoke with paramedics and police. His father, Fabrizio, a former policeman and rugby player, arrived at the site alongside first responders. Ruggero was rushed to San Salvatore Hospital, where his condition deteriorated rapidly due to severe internal bleeding. Despite undergoing two operations, he passed away on Tuesday afternoon.
Rugby Background: Ruggero, who would have turned 16 in November, played scrum-half and wing for the junior club Rugby Experience. He had played rugby since childhood and was part of the Under-16 squad that won the Italian national title in June 2025.
Tributes and Mourning: The Italian Rugby Federation expressed its condolences and ordered a nationwide minute of silence across rugby pitches, as well as ahead of a women’s rugby Test match against Japan. L’Aquila’s Mayor, Pierluigi Biondi, described the loss of a life at that age as “a wound for the whole city.” Local sports teams, including football club L’Aquila 1927, and the local community organized tributes, including black armbands and a white-balloon memorial.