Edoardo Todaro: Italian wing makes fast start for Northampton

Todaro took an unusual route into rugby after being born and spending his early childhood in the football-mad city of Milan – although he did not support either of the city’s big clubs, Inter and AC.

“I used to support Juventus because my grandpa’s from there [Turin] and he watched every game,” he said.

“Rugby is quite niche in Italy. I was playing football at the start but I was really bad and wasn’t enjoying it. My dad used to play (rugby) and said ‘give it a go’.

“I was pretty average in the first year, but the second year I changed clubs and we won three really good tournaments in mini-rugby – but getting into seniors in Milan, it’s not a city to go for rugby.”

Todaro made the move to England following contact between Ipswich School and his coach at the time in Italy.

“I just wanted a change in my life, the opportunity came and I decided to go for it. I’m surprised my parents let me (go),” he said.

“I knew Northampton was a good club and in the first year I remember seeing stories about a couple of players from Ipswich that were also in the Saints academy and playing in stadiums for the under-18s and I thought ‘that’s so cool, I wish that was me’. And eventually it was me.

“If you’d asked me a month ago if I’d be playing three games in the Prem, I’d be like ‘no way’. I never expected that. That was not in my mind. Obviously it was a goal to play but to start three out of three is quite good.”

Saints are second in the Prem table after two wins and a draw so far and are away to Newcastle Red Bulls on Friday evening.

Todaro – who also scored twice in the league opener against Exeter Chiefs – will hope to again be involved and director of rugby Phil Dowson described his start to the campaign, and that of fly-half Anthony Belleau, who contributed a double against Leicester, as “top class”.

He added: “We’ve seen how good Edo can be and how much potential he has, how much better he’s going to get, and how confident he is.”