David Cusani

{{Short description|English rugby union player (born 1959)}} '''David Anthony Cusani''' (born 16 July 1959)<ref name=espn>{{cite web |title=David Cusani |url=http://en.espn.co.uk/england/rugby/player/10150.html |publisher=espn.co.uk |access-date=6 January 2023}}</ref> is a former English rugby union player. Cusani played for the Orrell club as a lock and won one international cap for the England national rugby union team, against Ireland in February 1987.<ref name="espn"/> {| class="wikitable" |+ ! colspan="2" |David Cusani |- |'''Born''' |16 July, 1959 Wigan, England |- |'''Height''' |2.00 m (6 ft 7in) |- |'''Weight''' |112 kg (245 lb) |- | colspan="2" | '''Rugby Union Career''' |- |'''Position''' |Lock / Number 8 |- | colspan="2" | '''Career Statistics''' |- |Wigan RUFC |1978-1980 |- |Orrell RUFC |1980-1988 1989-1991 |- |Liverpool St Helens RUFC |1988-1989 |- |Macclesfield RUFC |1991-1995 |- |Lancashire RUFC |1981-1990 (24 appearances) |- |England RUFC |England B v Ireland B, Belfast 1982 England Tour of South African 1984 England v Ireland, Landsdowne Road 7 February 1987 England B v France B, Bath, 14 February 1987 England B v Australia, Sale RUFC, 1988 England v Italy, Rovigo, May 1990 |- |Barbarians RUFC |Barbarians v Italy, Stadio Flaminio Rome, May 1985 |}

== Early Life == Cusani was born in Wigan, the home of rugby.

== Education == Cusani was educated at St John Rigby College, Wigan formerly a grammar school where he played rugby union from the age of 11. Whilst in higher education, Cusani concentrated on club rugby, playing for Wigan RUFC.

== Rugby Career == Started at Wigan RUFC via Wigan and Lancashire Colts, before moving to the local senior club Orrell RUFC in 1980, where he continued to flourish for a decade, eventually forming a fearsome partnership with "the giant" Bob Kimmins. During this time he continued to impress, following calls up to represent Lancashire B, Lancashire, England U23's and England B, culminating in full England tour of South Africa in 1984.

Unfortunately on returning from South Africa, Cusani suffered a cartilage knee injury which put him out of the game, despite several come back attempts between 1984-1986. During this time, whilst semi-fit he went on a Lancashire Tour and was called up to play for the Barbarians v Italy in Rome in May 1985.

Returning to full fitness, Cusani was called up to replace an injured Wade Dooley to play for the North of England in 1986 winning the Divisional Championship and again in 1987. These performances resulted in Cusani's selection for England v Ireland at Landsdowne Road, Dublin in February 1987. Cusani remained part of the England squad until his retirement from senior rugby in 1991. In this period, he was a non-travelling reserve for the first Rugby World Cup in Australia / New Zealand, 1987. He played for England B against France (1987) and Australia (1988), culminating in selection England v Italy played at Rovigo May 1990 where Cusani played at Number 8 for only the fifth time in his career.

On the back of a business move, Cusani relocated to Macclesfield and took the unusual step to drop down many divisions to play for the local club Macclesfield RUFC. For the next four years, before retiring from rugby aged 35, he steered the club to two league promotions and two Cheshire Cup victories, the first against Sale RUFC, the local senior club.

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cusani, David}} Category:Living people Category:1959 births Category:English rugby union players Category:England international rugby union players Category:Rugby union players from Wigan Category:Orrell R.U.F.C. players Category:Rugby union locks Category:Lancashire County RFU players Category:20th-century English sportsmen