# David Cusani

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{{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](/source/Orrell_R.U.F.C.) club as a [lock](/source/Rugby_union_positions) and won one international cap for the [England national rugby union team](/source/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](/source/Wigan) 
|-
|'''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](/source/Wigan_RUFC)
|1978-1980
|-
|[Orrell RUFC](/source/Orrell_R.U.F.C.)
|1980-1988
1989-1991
|-
|[Liverpool St Helens RUFC](/source/Liverpool_St_Helens_F.C.)
|1988-1989
|-
|[Macclesfield RUFC](/source/Macclesfield_R.U.F.C.)
|1991-1995
|-
|[Lancashire RUFC](/source/Lancashire_County_Rugby_Football_Union)
|1981-1990 (24 appearances)
|-
|[England RUFC](/source/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](/source/Barbarian_F.C.)
|Barbarians v Italy, [Stadio Flaminio](/source/Stadio_Flaminio) Rome, May 1985
|}

== Early Life ==
Cusani was born in [Wigan](/source/Wigan), the home of rugby. 

== Education ==
Cusani was educated at [St John Rigby College](/source/St_John_Rigby_College%2C_Wigan), 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](/source/Wigan_RUFC). 

== Rugby Career ==
Started at Wigan RUFC via Wigan and Lancashire Colts, before moving to the local senior club [Orrell RUFC](/source/Orrell_R.U.F.C.) 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](/source/Barbarian_F.C.) v Italy in Rome in May 1985. 

Returning to full fitness, Cusani was called up to replace an injured [Wade Dooley](/source/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](/source/Lansdowne_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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/Sale_FC_Rugby_Club), 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

{{England-rugbyunion-bio-1950s-stub}}

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [David Cusani](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Cusani) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Cusani?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.
