ROSS VINTCENT will be hoping to deliver the goods for Italy at the Six Nations – just like he does for Domino’s.
The 21-year-old got a slice of the action as a second-half substitute for Italy in the 36-0 defeat to Ireland.
But his shock and rapid rise to the senior Azzurri team has left his employers back in Exeter a worker short.
That is because Vintcent is still an economics student at Exeter University and, only on an academy contract at Exeter Chiefs, the cash remains tight.
So within a month of starting his course he decided to earn some extra dough… as a driver for the famous takeaway pizza chain.
Vintcent told The Telegraph: “I haven’t had a shift in the last six weeks because it’s been really busy – and I’ve had exams, too
“But I am still technically employed by them and I have actually been thinking this week, ‘What am I going to do now?’
“I would love to keep going at it but the university work is starting to pick up, too. I might have to hand in my resignation… which I would hate.”
Vintcent was born in Johannesburg but is eligible for Italy through his grandad.
And that prompted Sebastian Negri’s brother Tom – also raised in South Africa following a horrendous family ordeal but eligible for Italy – to put in a good word for Vintcent, who only switched from a versatile back to the back row four years ago.
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The Italian rugby federation snapped the youngster up in 2020 and put him through their academy programme, which included a loan at Zebre Parma.
But in September 2022, after initially deferring his special offer, the flanker headed to Exeter with the ambition of securing his degree and a place in the university rugby team.
Eighteen months on, he remains a full-time student – but has certainly graduated from the British Universities and Colleges Sport level, getting picked up by his local Premiership side.
Vintcent is yet to sign a pro contract at Sandy Park but is very much becoming a big cheese for Rob Baxter’s Chiefs with a flying start to his career in Devon.
It was those impressive red-hot performances – including a Premiership debut in 2023 and serving up seven sizzling tries in his first seven first-team appearances – that saw Gonzalo Quesada name him in his Italy squad for the Six Nations.
And when he ran out at the Aviva Stadium for his first cap, it completed a journey so speedy even his Domino’s colleagues should be proud.
Vintcent – whose name on his jersey was missing the ‘T’ in the middle in Dublin – added: “I was more excited than ever but it was a weird one because my nerves and emotions were under control as I didn’t want to let the occasion get to me.
“When I first started playing at Sandy Park I would get so nervous and almost doubt myself a little bit.
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“I didn’t know if I was able to compete at that sort of level – last year I was playing in BUCS. It’s another step up, to the Premiership, and I wasn’t sure if I was ready and I wasn’t sure whether the coaches had made the right decision to throw me in.
“But I’m glad they did – being thrown in the deep end, you learn to adjust and adapt.
“But I don’t think it has sunk in… It was a surreal experience, standing in the line for the anthems, looking up, full of people.
“I was doubting how much time I’d get, if any at all. So I was very grateful when they said, ‘Ross, you’re up’.
“My parents, cousin and girlfriend were there, along with family friends from back in Dubai from when we used to live there. I was very grateful that they could make it out.”
There is no doubt that young Vintcent is the flavour of the month right now with Italian rugby’s players, coaches and fans who fully approve of his incredible talent.
Maybe less so the far-from-authentic greasy pizzas he drops off to grateful residents at homes around Exeter in the evenings.
