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Carlo Tizzano

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Carlo Tizzano
Full nameCarlo Francesco Leonardo Tizzano
Born (2000-02-02) 2 February 2000 (age 26)
Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Height1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Weight101 kg (223 lb; 15 st 13 lb)
School
Rugby union career
Position Flanker
Current team Western Force
Youth career
–2019 RugbyWA Academy
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2017– UWA Rugby 31[1] (115[2])
2020–2022 West Harbour 10 (15)
Correct as of 2024
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2019 Western Force 8 (15)
2020–2022 Waratahs 18 (5)
2022–2023 Ealing Trailfinders 14 (75)
2023– Western Force 43 (150)
Correct as of 30 May 2026[3]
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2017–2018 Australian Schoolboys 2 (5)
2019 Australia U20 7 (5)
2024– Australia 14 (20)
Correct as of 25 October 2025[3]
Medal record
Men's rugby union
Representing  Australia
Oceania U20 Championship
Winner2019 Gold Coast
Junior World Cup
Runner-up2019 Argentina

Carlo Francesco Leonardo Tizzano[4] (Italian pronunciation: [kˈarlo tit͡sːˈaːno]; born 2 February 2000) is an Australian professional rugby union player who currently plays as a flanker for Super Rugby club Western Force and the Australia national team.

Youth career and personal life

[edit]

Tizzano was born and raised in Perth[5] in the Australian state of Western Australia to Italian parents.[6] Tizzano's father migrated to Australia from Naples, Italy when he was 21-years-old, while his mother grew up in Perth and is of Italian descent.[4] Tizzano's family comes from Ischia, Campania, Italy.[7]

Tizzano played rugby union and Australian rules football in his youth, being selected for state teams in both sports. He has mentioned that his role in Australian rules football was a tagger.[8] Tizzano also attended the Hale School and Trinity College, Perth.[5] In 2020, speaking to The Daily Telegraph, Tizzano proclaimed, "I was an AFL player and I am a massive AFL fan, but I got sick and tired of players running away from me and not into me. I do love the contact. I really love it. I don't worry about getting hurt. This may sound a bit primate, but I like to have a battle and see who comes out top dog."[9] Speaking on the Scrumbags Rugby Podcast in January 2025, Tizzano stated that in his youth his main playing positions were centre, wing and fullback, and that he didn't play as a flanker permanently until 2017. On the same podcast Tizzano credited the "orientation day"-style pathway presentation he received for rugby state try-outs in his teenage years as what 'got him over the line' in deciding between which sport to pursue professionally.[8]

By 2017, Tizzano, then playing with the RugbyWA Academy and the University of Western Australia (UWA) in Perth's Premier Rugby competition, had been selected for the Australian Schoolboys team.[10][11] However a week before the team's scheduled tour he suffered a knee injury and was subsequently ruled out.[11]

In 2018, Tizzano made two appearances for the Australian Schoolboys on their tour of Great Britain and Ireland,[12] scoring a try against Scotland U19s in a 46–14 win.[13] Tizzano was also a member of the Australian under-20s squad to lift the Oceania U20 Championship title for the first time, playing in all three of their matches, including the 24–0 final win over New Zealand.[14]

In 2025 Tizzano revealed that he was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as an adult, having sought treatment in 2023.[15]

Tizzano is a fan of combat sports, particularly boxing, mixed-martial arts, and wrestling.[16]

Career

[edit]

In 2019, Tizzano made his professional debut with the Western Force in the Global Rapid Rugby. Starting at openside flanker in the team's 42–10 victory against the Asia Pacific Dragons, Tizzano scored a try in the tenth minute.[17] Tizzano played seven games with the Western Force in their 2019 National Rugby Championship (NRC) campaign, scoring two tries in the process en-route to the title. The Western Force defeated the Canberra Vikings 41–3 in the Final.[18]

Waratahs

[edit]

In September 2019, Tizzano was confirmed to join the Waratahs from the Force on a two-year deal beginning the following season (2020),[19] alongside Michael McDonald and Andrew Deegan.[20]

Tizzano was named in the Waratahs' senior squad ahead of the season,[21] and later made his debut in their opening round match against the Crusaders.[22] This was Tizzano's only minutes of the season for the Waratahs, as the season was later cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[23] He was released at the conclusion of the Super Rugby season and made his Shute Shield debut for the West Harbour Pirates in July 2020,[9] where his impressive physicality and fitness were noted.[24]

In 2021, Tizzano emerged as one of the Waratahs' standout loose forwards. In a mid-season interview with The Sydney Morning Herald he spoke of his motivation in joining the team the previous year and his goal of earning the No. 7 position ahead of Wallabies captain Michael Hooper, stating: "Literally the only reason I came here [New South Wales] is because I wanted to take his spot," adding, "I could have stayed at home, been comfortable... but I genuinely thought to myself I could have taken his spot last year. It's obviously shooting for the stars and that's never going to happen, but if I have that mindset, even if I don't do it, I'm going to get somewhere close."[16]

Tizzano began the 2021 Super Rugby AU season as the starting Waratahs No. 7, playing a total of 600 minutes across eight matches.[3] After the opening three rounds, Tizzano had made 64 tackles, 18 more than the second-highest player.[16] By the seasons end, he had the most tackles in the competition, and the second-most carries.[25] Having started in every round of the Super Rugby AU, Tizzano was moved to the bench for the Waratahs' opening match of the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman against the Hurricanes.[25] Despite a breakthrough debut season for the Waratahs, the team finished the year without a win,[26] recording a 0–13 campaign across the Super Rugby AU, and Super Rugby Trans-Tasman, the first Australian team in the competition to achieve this feat.[27]

In 2022, Tizzano was largely made a replacement for flanker Charlie Gamble, whom had a breakout season with the Waratahs in the back row.[28][29] Tizzano played in just five matches during the season, and averaged no more than 27 minutes a match.[3]

Ealing Trailfinders

[edit]

In May 2022, Tizzano was confirmed as one of the Ealing Trailfinders's latest signings ahead of the 2022–23 Championship season.[30] At the time of his transfer, Ealing were the defending Championship winners, having won the title on the final matchday.[31] Ealing's Director of Rugby Ben Ward spoke highly of Tizzano upon his signing, stating: "We are very pleased to sign a player of Carlo's quality. He's an excellent young player, adds power and experience to our back-row and will become a crucial member of our squad. He has proven playing experience in Australia and we're excited to watch him develop even further."[32]

Tizzano scored his first try for the club in their opening match against the Doncaster Knights in September 2022.[33] Coming off the bench in the 53rd minute, Tizzano scored an 80th minute try to seal the bonus-point victory for the team.[33] By October, Tizzano scored his first double and became the teams top try-scorer.[34] By December, Tizzano had scored eleven tries[3] as Ealing remained undefeated after nine rounds.[35] At the end of the season, Tizzano had scored 15 tries in 14 matches for the club, the joint top try-scorer in the competition.[36] Ealing finished runners-up, being two points off the Jersey Reds whom finished as champions.[37]

Force

[edit]

With the 2023 Super Rugby season already underway, the Force announced the return of Tizzano on a two-year deal in April of that year.[38] It was later revealed 1 year and 110 days later that Tizzano had a meeting with newly-appointed Force coach Simon Cron on Christmas Eve in 2022 (while at Ealing) in an attempt to convince him to move back to the Force.[39]

Tizzano played his first match in round ten against domestic rivals, the Queensland Reds. He later played every remaining match of the season for the Force, scoring two tries.[3]

In 2024, Tizzano started in every match of the Force's season.[3] After just three rounds, Tizzano was leading successful tackles in the Force squad, and was the competition leader in arrivals at the ruck (58).[40] By round twelve, although the Force had won just two games, Tizzano had scored three tries, one of which sealed a bonus-point win against the Crusaders to end a ten-year drought,[41][42] and was the competition leader in successful tackles (171).[43] At the conclusion of the season, Tizzano had scored a further two tries and finished the competition leader in tackles with 240.[44] In addition to tackling, Tizzano was also among the top ranks in the competition for tackle success rate and turnovers.[44] Such was Tizzano's successful domestic season that he earnt a Wallabies call-up, making his Test debut in August 2024.[44]

Continuing his outstanding form into 2025, Tizzano finished 2025 as the competition's leading try scorer with 13 tries, the most in Super Rugby season by a forward.[45] He became the first Western Force player to be named Rugby Australia's Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year,[45] while also receiving consecutive club MVP honours for a second year in a row.[45] At international level, Tizzano built on his Wallabies debut from the previous year, becoming a regular member of Australia's matchday squad throughout the Rugby Championship.[3]

International career

[edit]

Tizzano was chosen to represent Australia at the 2019 World Rugby Under 20 Championship, making his first international appearance against Italy.[46]

On 10 August 2024, Tizzano made his Wallabies debut in a 2024 Rugby Championship match against South Africa at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.[47][48] The Wallabies suffered a heavy defeat of 33-7 to start their Rugby Championship campaign as South Africa scored 5 tries to 1.[49]

Tizzano was involved in a controversial incident during the final moments of Australia’s defeat in the second test of the 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia. Moments before the Lions would score the match-winning try, while counter-rucking near his own try line, Tizzano was cleared-out by Lions player Jac Morgan. Although the clear out was legal, with no contact being made with Tizzano’s head or neck, the Australian flanker appeared to feign a head injury in an apparent attempt to secure his side a match-winning penalty. However, after TMO review, it was correctly deemed that there had been no foul play and that Morgan’s actions were legal.[50] Australia coach Joe Schmidt stated in Tizzano's defence that "-there were just over 54Gs of force, direct force that went through the neck, along with almost 2200 rads of rotational force." Schmidt’s claim remains disputed and no evidence was provided to support his assertion.[51][52] Tizzano was criticised throughout the rugby community for his reaction to the contact, with many observers labelling Tizzano’s actions as unsportsmanlike.[53]

Career statistics

[edit]

Club

[edit]
As of 30 May 2026.[3][54]
Statistics by club, season and competition
Club Season League
DivisionAppsTriesPoints
Force 2019 Global Rapid Rugby, National Rugby Championship 8315
Waratahs 2020 Super Rugby 100
2021 Super Rugby AU, Trans-Tasman 1215
2022 Super Rugby Pacific 500
Total 1815
Ealing Trailfinders 2022–23 Championship 141575
Force 2023 Super Rugby Pacific 6210
2024 14525
2025 111365
2026 121050
Total 4330150
Career total 8349245

International

[edit]
As of 30 May 2026.[3][54]
Statistics by team and year
Team Year Statistic
AppsTriesPoints
Australia 2024 515
2025 9315
Total 14420

International tries

[edit]
List of international tries scored by Carlo Tizzano[3][54]
No. Opponent Location Competition Date Result Ref.
1  Argentina Estadio Brigadier General Estanislao López, Santa Fe 2024 Rugby Championship 7 September 2024 27–67 [55]
2 British & Irish Lions Lang Park, Brisbane 2025 British & Irish Lions tour of Australia 19 July 2025 19–27 [56]
3  New Zealand Eden Park, Auckland 2025 Rugby Championship 27 September 2025 24–33 [57]
4  Japan Japan National Stadium, Tokyo 2025 Autumn International 25 October 2025 19–15 [58]

Awards and honours

[edit]

Force

Australia U20

Individual

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "UWA Players Games Total" (PDF). uwarugby.com.
  2. ↑ "UWA All-Time Try Scorers" (PDF). uwarugby.com.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Carlo Tizzano: Stats – All Rugby". All Rugby.
  4. 1 2 @SuperRugby (25 February 2025). "A deep dive into the origins of our players' names 🤩 #SuperRugbyPacific Culture Round kicks off Feb 28 💪" (Tweet). Retrieved 25 February 2025 – via X (formerly Twitter).
  5. 1 2 Somerford, Ben (8 August 2024). "WA-born-and-bred Tizzano confirmed for Wallabies debut". westernforce.rugby. Archived from the original on 15 August 2024.
  6. ↑ Grey, Lachie (20 January 2025). "The Italian Job: How Carlo Tizzano turned down the Azzurii to chase Wallaby gold". Rugby.com.au. Rugby Australia. Archived from the original on 20 January 2025.
  7. ↑ Miller, Antonia (17 February 2025). "80 second with: Western Force and Wallabies flanker Carlo Tizzano". Rugby.com.au. Rugby Australia. Archived from the original on 17 February 2025.
  8. 1 2 "The Italian Job with Carlo Tizzano". Scrumbags Rugby Podcast (Podcast). 26 January 2025. Event occurs at 14:00.
  9. 1 2 Lulham, Amanda (9 August 2020). "Shute Shield: Carlo Tizzano reveals why he chose rugby over AFL". The Daily Telegraph. News Corp Australia. Archived from the original on 22 July 2023.
  10. ↑ Greenwood, Emma (25 April 2019). "Junior Wallaby Tizzano hails West Australian pathway". Rugby.com.au. Rugby Australia.
  11. 1 2 Wildie, Tom (28 May 2019). "A 'golden generation' of Wallabies emerges in the wake of the Western Force axing". ABC News. Archived from the original on 15 June 2019.
  12. ↑ "Carlo Tizzano – Schools Rugby". schoolsrugby.com.au. Austraian Schools Rugby.
  13. ↑ Newman, Beth (17 December 2018). "FULL REPLAY: Aussie Schools and U18s finish tour on a high against Scotland U19s". Rugby.com.au.
  14. 1 2 "That's gold! Junior Wallabies dominate Baby Blacks". Fox Sports Australia. News Corp Austrlia. 4 May 2019.
  15. ↑ Pandaram, Jamie (21 February 2025). "Wallaby Carlo Tizzano says ADHD diagnosis was validating after years of confusion, now hopes to inspire others with the condition". The Daily Telegraph. News Corp Australia.
  16. 1 2 3 Decent, Tom (18 March 2021). "'I was eating 25,000 kilojoules a day': The mad world of Waratahs rookie Carlo Tizzano". The Sydney Morning Herald. Nine Entertainment.
  17. ↑ "Force produce powerful performance in Perth". rapidrugby.com. Global Rapid Rugby. 12 April 2019. Archived from the original on 12 April 2019.
  18. 1 2 Greenwood, Emma (26 October 2019). "Western Force win maiden NRC title with five-try second-half blitz". Rugby.com.au. Rugby Australia.
  19. ↑ "McDonald and Tizzano join NSW Waratahs". nsw.rugby. New South Wales Rugby Union. 16 October 2019.
  20. ↑ Payten, Iain (3 September 2019). "Waratahs recruit rising WA stars; Deegan confirms move to Rebels". Rugby.com.au.
  21. ↑ Newman, Beth (28 January 2020). "Super Rugby Season Preview: How will the Waratahs' new era begin?". Rugby.com.au.
  22. ↑ "Crusaders cruise to victory over Waratahs". super.rugby. SANZAAR. 1 February 2020.
  23. ↑ Decent, Tom (14 March 2020). "All Super Rugby matches to be cancelled after Sunday's fixtures". The Sydney Morning Herald. Nine Entertainment.
  24. ↑ "Turner's day out sees Pirates dominate rival Two Blues in a blistering second half display". westharbourrugby.com.au. West Harbour RFC. 29 September 2020.
  25. 1 2 Phillips, Sam (11 May 2021). "Harrison, Tizzano left out of starting side for Waratahs' clash with Hurricanes". The Sydney Morning Herald. Nine Entertainment.
  26. ↑ Doran, Christy (12 June 2021). "0–13: Waratahs hit astonishing low as season from hell ends in even more misery". Fox Sports Australia. News Corp Australia.
  27. ↑ Decent, Tom (12 June 2021). "Waratahs finish 2021 without a win as Perese's Wallabies call-up in doubt". The Sydney Morning Herald. Nine Entertainment.
  28. ↑ Payten, Iain (29 April 2022). "From the world's best club to Sydney subbies: How the Waratahs unearthed a hidden star". The Sydney Morning Herald. Nine Entertainment.
  29. ↑ Bruce, Sam (15 December 2022). "'I bleed blue ... I support the Wallabies': Charlie Gamble is all in on Australian rugby". ESPN.
  30. ↑ Newcombe, Jon (29 May 2022). "Wardy's faith helped inspire me, Uzokwe". The Rugby Paper.
  31. ↑ "Ealing Trailfinders win RFU Championship – but need one more victory". The Times. 4 April 2022.
  32. ↑ "Ealing Trailfinders sign highly-rated Australian flanker". Ultimate Rugby. 25 May 2022.
  33. 1 2 Chevallier, Xander (11 September 2022). "Confident Ealing win a game of patience". The Rugby Paper. No. 730. pp. 20–21.
  34. ↑ Chevallier, Xander (9 October 2022). "Tizzano finds his feet as Ealing cruise home in style". The Rugby Paper. No. 734. p. 29.
  35. ↑ Chevallier, Xander (11 December 2022). "Tizzano and Malton put Trailfinders back on top". The Rugby Paper. No. 743. p. 24. Braces from Carlo Tizzano and Shaun Malton helped Ealing Trailfinders continue their unbeaten run this season as they returned to the top of the Championship table after a big win over Bedford Blues.
  36. ↑ "Championship | Results". The Rugby Paper. No. 763. 30 April 2023. p. 30.
  37. ↑ "Jersey Reds win RFU Championship title after 43–15 win over Ampthill". BBC Sport. 29 April 2023. Reds finish the season on 100 points, two clear of Ealing, who they beat 19–13 last week to set up their first second tier title.
  38. ↑ "Welcome home Carlo Tizzano". westernforce.rugby. Western Force. 20 April 2023.
  39. 1 2 Payten, Iain (8 August 2024). "Full noise, loose screws and the Wallabies No.7: Can Carlo's way help shock the Boks?". The Sydney Morning Herald. Nine Entertainment.
  40. ↑ "Western Force–Moana Pasifika | Match Pack, Super Rugby Pacific | 2024 Season". super.rugby. SANZAAR. 15 March 2024.
  41. ↑ "Western Force smash Crusaders 37–15 in Perth". Rugby.com.au. 20 April 2024.
  42. ↑ Somerford, Ben (30 December 2024). "Five of the best Western Force moments in 2024". Western Force. In Round 9, the Force toppled the Crusaders for the first time in more than a decade. On a memorable evening, the Force ran in four tries, shaking off a second-half Crusaders charge, with Sam Carter and Carlo Tizzano dotting late to seal the 37–15 bonus-point triumph.
  43. ↑ Somerford, Ben (7 May 2024). "'It's exciting' - Tizzano roused for finals push against top-eight hopefuls". westernforce.rugby. Western Force.
  44. 1 2 3 Morton, Finn (8 August 2024). "Tackle-machine Carlo Tizzano set for Wallabies debut against Springboks". RugbyPass.
  45. 1 2 3 4 Somerford, Ben (17 October 2025). "Tizzano crowned 2025 Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year at RA Awards". Rugby.com.au.
  46. ↑ Beth Newman (4 June 2019). "Junior Wallabies open World Rugby U20s campaign with big win". RUGBY.com.au. Archived from the original on 31 August 2025. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  47. ↑ Australia, Rugby (8 August 2024). "Tizzano earns Wallabies debut against Springboks in Brisbane". wallabies.rugby. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
  48. ↑ Pandaram, Jamie (7 August 2024). ""Carlo Tizzano set for Wallabies debut against South Africa"". news.com.au. pp. 1–2. Archived from the original on 28 June 2026. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
  49. ↑ Fontaine, Angus (10 August 2024). "Springboks deal Wallabies a brutal reality check with crushing first Test win". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 18 February 2025. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
  50. ↑ Tom English (26 July 2026). "Lions fight back to win series against Australia in classic". bbc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 27 August 2025. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  51. ↑ Tony Harper (26 July 2026). "'Was he brave enough to get a penalty? No': Tizzano accused of soccer-style dive as massive call divides coaches, legends". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  52. ↑ Lain Payten (31 July 2025). "'54Gs of force through his neck': Online abuse, sore neck see Tizzano left out of third Test". smh.com.au. Archived from the original on 13 August 2025. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  53. ↑ "Former star rants over Lions controversy, says Wallaby 'should have been red carded'— UK View =29 July 2025". bbc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 27 April 2026. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  54. 1 2 3 "Carlo Tizzano – Appearance List | RugbyDatabase". RugbyDatabase.
  55. ↑ "Argentina condemn Australia to biggest Test defeat". BBC Sport. 7 September 2024.
  56. ↑ English, Tom (19 July 2025). "Imperfect Lions beat Australia to take series lead". BBC Sport.
  57. ↑ Grey, Lachie (27 September 2025). "AS IT HAPPENED: All Blacks secure Bledisloe Cup after 33–24 win over Wallabies at Eden Park". Rugby.com.au.
  58. ↑ Pentony, Luke (25 October 2025). "Wallabies defeat Eddie Jones's Brave Blossoms 19–15 in opening Test of spring tour". ABC News.
  59. ↑ "Australians outnumber Kiwis in Super Rugby's 2025 Team of the Year". Stuff. Stuff Ltd. 3 June 2025. Archived from the original on 4 June 2025.
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