RICKY RICCITELLI

Position
Hooker

Blues debut
2022 v Hurricanes

Blues caps
32

Blues Points
60

Born
03/02/95

Height
178cm

Weight
110kg

Ricky Riccitelli is a hard-nosed Hooker from Taranaki and another product of the Francis Douglas Memorial College production line. Originally from Durban in South Africa, Riccitelli’s family made the move to Aotearoa when he was four years old. An accomplished sportsman through high school, Riccitelli played representative cricket as well as rugby.

Although there was interest from other provincial unions for Riccitelli, he ended up signing a two-year deal with Hawkes Bay in 2015, playing primarily at loose-head prop. Riccitelli then joined the Hurricanes making his debut in their season opener against the Brumbies. 

Ricky had many successful seasons establishing himself in the Hurricanes squad, winning the Super Rugby Championship in 2016, playing in every match in 2017, starting  11 and amassing 71 caps for the men from the Capital. His form was so reliable he was called into the All Blacks camp during the June series with France. Riccitelli returned to his home province of Taranaki for the 2017 Mitre 10 Cup season.

Riccitelli joined the Blues for the 2022 season, hungry for minutes where he turned out nine times for the club in a solid year. The following Super season saw Riccitelli return to some of his best form where he earned the regular starting jersey ahead of Eklund and Vikena. The dominant year continued with selection in the All Blacks XV team that toured Japan while he was also part of the victorious Taranaki NPC team, winning the final at home in New Plymouth.  Riccitelli is a player with an incredible work ethic - often one of the last at training doing extra work. He heads into 2024 at the top of his game and will be no doubt looking to secure the starting spot at hooker for the season.