Michele is a versatile front row forward, currently plying his trade in England with Leicester Tigers. His preferred position is prop but he can also play as a hooker. He currently plays for Leicester Tigers in the Aviva Premiership. He grew up playing for Petrarca, of which he also was the captain for two seasons (2007–08 and 2008–09).
Won the Italian championship with Treviso in 2010. Joined Leicester Tigers summer 014 making his Premiership debut at Gloucester in October that year.
Test debut came on tour in Australia in June 2005, had to wait almost 3 years for his 2nd cap, against SA in June 2008, then nearly four years before his 3rd cap which was his 6 Nations debut.
His debut was against Ireland in Dublin, 2012. He played only one round in both 2013 & 2015 but four rounds in 2014. Did not feature in 2016 6 Nations.
He appeared in three of Italy's games at RWC 2015, scoring a try v Canada, before a knee injury ruled him out of rugby for the next 12 months. Has not been capped since.
In March 2017, Rizzo has agreed a new contract with Leicester Tigers.
Rizzo has returned from injury to take his place in the Tigers front row in the second half of the 2016/17 season and was part of the Anglo-Welsh Cup Final squad which picked up the club's first silverware since 2013 with victory over Exeter Chiefs earlier this month.
Rizzo's form also earned him a recall to the Italy squad during the 2017 Six Nations and he now has 23 Test caps.
In 2018 he cut ties with the Tigers and joined Petrarca Rugby, a rugby union club from Padua, Italy, that competes in the top tier of the Italian rugby union, the National Championship of Excellence.
(LS July 4, 2018)
Career
 |
Petrarca Loosehead Prop |
2001 - present |
 |
Benetton Rugby Loosehead Prop |
2009 - 2014 |
 |
Italy Loosehead Prop |
2005 - 2017 |
 |
Edinburgh Rugby Loosehead Prop |
2017 - 2017 |
 |
Leicester Tigers Loosehead Prop |
2014 - 2018 |
