The spotlight has followed Italian centre Mirco Bergamasco all around the world but he never thought he would bring it back to Canberra.
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That's just what Bergamasco has done as Italy prepare for a Canberra Stadium showdown in the Rugby League World Cup, 14 years after he represented the Azzurri in rugby union's international showpiece at the same venue.
He's been named in a 21-man squad as Italy look to give former Raiders captain Terry Campese a perfect Canberra farewell and earn a quarter-final berth against Fiji on Friday.
Bergamasco is never far away from the limelight - whether he's playing football, posing nude for PETA or dancing on national television in Dance, Dance, Dance.
But he doesn't mind the attention and he's loving every moment of a whirlwind rugby league journey that began in the wake of an 89-Test rugby union career.
He just can't believe it's brought him back to Canberra, where he represented Italy in the 2003 Rugby World Cup.
"It's a long time but it's amazing because there's a different atmosphere, different players," Bergamasco said.
"It's a little bit different from 14 years ago. Fourteen years after, the country changed a little bit. I discovered other parts of Australia.
"In 2003 I played one game in Melbourne and three games in Canberra, so I know - not very well - but I know Canberra.
"When you play rugby, it's good because you can travel a lot and visit different places. I like nature, I'm vegan so when you're around nature it's good."
Bergamasco's rugby career took him from Italy to France to the United States, and rugby league opened the door for the Azzurri pin-up boy to return home.
Bergamasco plies his trade for the Saluzzo North West Roosters in France's National Division Two - the nation's fourth-tier rugby league competition.
Watching on from the sidelines in the first two pool games has been a tough pill to swallow for the 34-year-old, given he has played at three Rugby World Cups.
But it's made a bit easier by the fact he's only been playing the 13-a-side game for a year.
"I had this opportunity so I tried it and I liked it. I wanted to try in one year to see if I can come into the World Cup. It was a good challenge for me because I need this," Bergamasco said.
"I wanted to try this, a different opportunity, and it's nice, it's amazing. It's completely different so I had to learn and understand the rules, the positions and everything. It's a good experience.
"The important thing is I enjoy the time, and I do something that I love, which is to play rugby, so it's good."
