Double Tragedy Strikes Rome Rugby Community: Luciano Mazzi Dies Hours After Wife Maura Giammarioli
Rome, Lazio, Italy – The rugby community in Rome is grappling with profound grief following the tragic and sudden death of Luciano Mazzi, 55, a revered figure in Italian rugby, just hours after his wife, Maura Giammarioli, 58, succumbed to a long illness. The couple’s funeral will be held today at 11:00 AM at the Cathedral of San Pietro in Frascati, as their sons, Simone and Alessio Mazzi, face an unimaginable double loss.
Maura Giammarioli passed away on Saturday morning after a courageous battle with illness. Later the same evening, Luciano Mazzi, a police officer serving with the Postal Police and a historic flag-bearer for the Rugby Roma Olimpic Club, suffered a sudden illness and could not be saved. Friends and family believe the immense pain of losing his wife, whom he had cared for until her last moments, contributed to his sudden passing.
Luciano Mazzi: A Champion and Pillar of Roman Rugby
Luciano Mazzi was a cornerstone of Roman rugby, reaching the pinnacle of his career by winning the Italian championship in 2000 with Rugby Roma, playing alongside his brother Giampiero, who later became an Italian national player and coach for the club.
The Rugby Roma Olimpic Club expressed their immense sorrow, stating, “An immense pain that leaves us all speechless. In this difficult moment, the club embraces Simone and Alessio, his brother Giampiero, and the entire Mazzi family, who have always been part of our big family. There are no words to alleviate such a great loss, but our embrace is total and profound.”
The Lazio Regional Committee of the Italian Rugby Federation also offered its condolences: “The Lazio Regional Committee expresses deep sorrow for the passing of Luciano Mazzi, a player, coach, and brother of our councilor Giampiero. We join the family in their grief and extend our most heartfelt condolences. Rest in peace.”
Mazzi had a distinguished career, playing for both Rugby Roma and Fiamme Oro. In 2015, he co-founded the Frascati Rugby Club 1949, later becoming its vice-president. His son, Simone, continues the family legacy, currently playing for Rugby Roma.
Frascati Rugby Club and Fiamme Oro Share Their Grief
The Frascati Rugby Club, where Luciano served as vice-president, wrote, “With hearts in a thousand pieces, the Frascati Rugby Club extends its deepest condolences to the Mazzi family. Today, our thoughts are with Simone and Alessio, struck by the dramatic loss of their mother and father.”
Fabrizio Pollak, Vice President and Sports Director of Rugby Roma Olimpic Club, described the events as “shocking, there is no other way to define them.” He added, “Mazzi is a symbol, a legend of the club. Everyone here experiences the quality of work that Giampiero brings, as a coach, as a manager, as a parent. Simone has recently joined our family, on tiptoe, but in a very short time, he has become a point of reference. I cannot imagine that after the death of his mother, he had still made himself available to play today’s game.”
The Fiamme Oro also released a statement, joining numerous other Roman and Lazio rugby clubs in their sorrow: “Unfortunately, today our former Flame Luciano Mazzi also left us, heartbroken by the pain of losing his beloved wife. We Fiamme all join in a big hug to his family.”
The double tragedy has sent shockwaves through the local community, with Frascati in mourning and rallying around the Mazzi family during this incredibly difficult time.
