The former England skipper announced the sad news on Christmas Day
England international skipper Lawrence Dallaglio has announced the sad passing of his father.
Dallaglio posted on Christmas Day that his dad, Vincenzo Dallaglio, had died this week after a battle with dementia.
Vincenzo was 91 and passed away peacefully, his son said on social media.
In a post on X, Dallaglio said: “My Papa Vincenzo Dallaglio, our Nonno, passed away peacefully this week after a long battle with dementia.
“Thinking of anyone missing someone they love this Christmas. He was an unassuming, humble and wise Italian man who worked so hard all his life to give me, Francesca and Eileen every chance to shine.
“At 91 Vincenzo truly lived a life and even became a rugby fan along the way, although he never managed to get a word in edgeways when he sat next to my mum Eileen when watching any match! He is now on his way to join Eileen and Francesca. Rest easy Papa. Rest easy Nonno xx
Dallaglio played a leading role in England’s sensational Rugby World Cup win in 2003 in Australia.
His mother Eileen passed on in 2012, while sister Francesca died when she was 19 in the Marchioness disaster on the River Thames when Dallaglio was just 16. Of the 130 people on board, 51 lost their lives. It was a tragedy that would go on to shape all of their lives.
Dallaglio previously detailed how his parents met.
“My father’s Italian by birth and came over to England in the Fifties and settled in London,” he said. “He was only coming here for a short time, but then he met my mother. For the first few years of my life, they ran a sweet shop in Bethnal Green.
“The East End of London was a real community then, you know. It was a hard way to earn a living, but even though the East End was a tough place, everyone still had a smile on their face.”
“My father came from quite a large family in Italy as well, so I’ve 44 first cousins,” he added. “I always say half-Irish, half-Italian makes you quite a dangerous Englishman.
“I’m proud of my Italian and Irish heritage, though I’ve always felt English.”
It has been a difficult period for the Wasps legend, after he announced last year that he and his wife Alice were separating after 20 years of marriage, while he has also faced financial problems.
Alice’s mother Lydia Corbett told MailOnline at the time of the separation: “I’m very sad about it. People marry and they divorce, I’ve been divorced twice so I know what it’s like. It’s horrible, it’s painful for the heart and it’s not fair.
“He did very well, I loved him, but he’s going through a bad phase and we hope he’s all right.”
The couple share three children together.
