He started his sporting career at Benetton Treviso’s youth club and became a first team regular at scrum half.

He later played with A.S. Montferrand in France and then Auvergne before returning to Treviso, with whom he won the national championship in the 2005/06 season.

He first appeared for the Italian national team in 1994 against Spain and has now appeared more than any other player for the side, who he captained on many occasions. 

In 2006/07 he won the European Challenge Cup with Clermont Auvergne and at the end of the season he appeared in the 2007 World Cup, winning his 100th cap against Portugal. He retired from professional rugby after the Italian team was knocked out of the competition by Scotland.