THE FRONT ROOM OF Marco Bortolami’s rented house in Cheltenham is littered with the paraphernalia of the itinerant sportsman. Pride of place is an armchair into the back of which is woven the shirt he wore at Narbonne, his previous club. In excellent English he explains that this is a French tradition given to those who leave. On the radiator cover sits a photograph of Giada, his girlfriend, from whom he is temporarily separated as he acclimatises in England in the run-up to the new season with Gloucester.
It does not take long in Bortolami’s company to appreciate why John Kirwan (JK), the former Italy coach, made him Italy’s youngest captain at the age of 22, and why he is held in such respect by his contemporaries. He combines quiet authority with good humour. He appears a natural leader but reveals his holiday reading was a biography of Julius Caesar, a copy of which sits on the sideboard atop sheets of paper listing Gloucester’ s lineout calls, which hurriedly he is having to learn.
“Julius Caesar was a very interesting character,” Bortolami, 26, explained. “I read it because of who he was. It is very important to understand all aspects of leadership when you are the captain. It is not easy to lead a team. At the start I was very young and I didn’t realise all the aspects of the role. Now I am more mature I think I am a better captain, but you learn to be a leader. You have to have a particular mentality and attitude but you learn and adapt. I am a quiet leader. Some shout, I lead by example.”
Bortolami goes on to explain the affinity he feels with the English and his rationale for his move here from France for the next two seasons, which he admits was a collective decision taken by several members of the squad to improve Italy’s chances at next year’s World Cup. “The World Cup for this group of Italian players is very important. We have to make the quarter-final, which will mean beating Scotland in the pool. It is a crucial target for us. French club mentality is similar to Italian clubs. It is not so well organised and professional as England. Ahead of France next year, it was very important for me to play the best rugby I can in the best environment.
“We talked among ourselves about the merits of France and England. If you want to improve your rugby, (playing in) England is so much better. The English championship is very tough. I think I am very close to the English mentality. English players are very quiet but very strong. I like quiet people, strong people.
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“French players like to show their emotions, sometimes Italian people do not understand this aspect of me. When I was young they criticised me. It was pretty difficult because (Alessandro) Troncon (his predecessor) was a different captain to me. Now it is all OK. Now people in Italy think I am good and understand my personality.”
His philosophy on rugby underpins his character. “I think it is very important for rugby to keep its traditions, respect, comradeship.
“Football is very different from rugby. It was fantastic when Italy won in Germany this summer. We had a party all night. I am of course a very proud Italian and winning was great. But I hope professional rugby does not change the attitude of the players and others involved in rugby. I don’t want to see the atmosphere at football grounds coming in to rugby. This respect between people, meeting after the matches. That is all very important.”
Born in Padova, which along with Treviso and Rovigo forms the heartland of Italian rugby, Bortolami shunned football in preference for the sport that Pasquale, his father, played. On graduating with a degree in mechanical engineering, Bortolami realised professional rugby offered him the chance of a career.
Capped first by Brad Johnstone, the head coach, in 2001, it was under Kirwan’s astute guidance that the young lock blossomed. “JK started to build the team,” Bortolami said. “Without results it was difficult, but JK had a very good mentality, he believed in the group, kept the same group of players to allow them to grow up. He was unlucky (to lose his job). Now we are playing better and starting to win because of the work he did and the extra experience we now have. I speak with him once a week at least.”
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Bortolami chose Gloucester because he liked Dean Ryan, the head coach, loved the thought of living in the Regency splendour of Cheltenham and was attracted by the potential of the squad. “There are a mix of strengths. Last season I watched the European (Challenge Cup) semi-final against Worcester. I was very impressed by the crowd. I had been told that the crowd was considered the best in England.
“Gloucester have a big project for the next two years. We want to win the Heineken Cup, and be (Guinness Premiership) champions and I think I can play a part in that.”