It has been a year Pierre Bruno will never forget, breaking into the Italian squad, scoring his first try for his country, and he capped it off becoming engaged on the pitch in Genoa.
The 26-year-old enjoyed a sensational Autumn Nations Series, scoring twice in the 49-17 win over Samoa, and again in the historic 28-27 victory over Australia last week, but in Genoa, he topped all of those personal moments with a touching proposal.
It was not the result Italy were after as they fell to a 63-21 defeat to world champions South Africa at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris, but Bruno ensured it will always be a day he will remember when getting down on one knee and proposing to now fiancée Jessica.
It was all played out in front of a large crowd that remained pitchside following the result, with all of them playing their part in a hugely important day for the couple, greeting them with loud cheers as Bruno got on one knee and even louder cheers when Jessica said yes.
There has been a big swathe of support for the Azzurri following their victory over Wales in the Guinness Six Nations, a first win in Romania since 1991 and those two hugely important victories earlier in the Autumn Nations Series, and now Bruno has captured the hearts of a nation with his romantic gesture played out in front of them.
