Tomorrow night, Riccitelli (21), a hooker, may get to play the biggest match of his life — a Super rugby final.
He will be playing in front of more than 35,000, rather than the 350 who go to a club game around Dunedin. He admits it has been a dream ride.
"It has been pretty surreal just from that first time I put that Canes jersey on,’’ he said.
"I’ve been fortunate to be in the position to ride that wave that the team has been on. It was awesome to be able to put on that Canes jersey last week. But we have not been talking too much about last week. For us it’s all about this week."
Riccitelli’s rapid rise came from some good timing, hard work and making the most of any opportunity given to him.
Riccitelli was born in South Africa but moved to New Zealand with his parents when he was 4.
He went to Francis Douglas Memorial College, in New Plymouth, where he excelled at rugby and was also a good performer on the cricket field.
After finishing school in 2012, he headed south to the University of Otago.
Riccitelli was made captain of Otago under-19 in 2014.
Riccitelli — the name is of Italian heritage — played for the Southern club at hooker.
He said the time at Southern was the making of him.
"They turned me from being just a scarfie into a man. Just those guys down there, they do such much for you," he said.
"They’ve helped me heaps and not just me. Guys like Tom Franklin, Tei Walden, they’ve really given a lot to us."
He pointed to the likes of Tim Belcher, Mike Reggett and Jocko Parker, in helping him.
Riccitelli, who played with the New Zealand Colts last year, trained with the Highlanders on and off, though he never got near taking the field for the side or even getting on the bench.
Riccitelli’s path to the Otago hooking jersey last year was blocked by Liam Coltman and Sam Anderson-Heather.
But through his connection with Highlanders hooker Ash Dixon, he signed with Dixon’s province, Hawke’s Bay, and moved north. His provincial career last year consisted of eight games, as an ankle injury hindered him.
But he did enough to come in as injury cover for the Hurricanes in their pre-season.
Injuries to hookers Dane Coles, Motu Matu’u and Leni Apisai have kept Riccitelli in the mix for most of the season.
And with Apisai hindered by a concussion, Matu’u nursing a broken arm and Coles picking up various ailments — the latest being a rib injury — Riccitelli has bagged eight appearances for the Hurricanes.
He has been bracketed with Coles for tomorrow night’s final.
Riccitelli sat exams this year for his bachelor of science degree and needs a couple more papers to finish his degree, which majors in geology and a minor in geography.
As for the future, he is back to Hawke’s Bay for the domestic season and then talking to the Hurricanes about next season.
