Bortolami was soon made captain of Italy's Under-21 side, before making his full international debut against Namibia in June, 2001, when he was just 20.
At the age of 22, Bortalami was made Italy's youngest ever captain. In his first-ever World Cup start – against Tonga in 2003 – he picked up an injury and missed the decisive match against Wales, which saw the Azzurri eliminated from the competition. After impressing in the 2004 Six Nations Championship championship, he was once again awarded the captaincy for the 2005 Summer tour of Japan.
After the tour he joined French club Narbonne. In the 2007 Six Nations Championship, Bortolami led Italy to their first away win in the competition against Scotland at Murrayfield, which was also the first time Italy have won more than one game in a single Six Nations Championship.
In 2016 he started as Benetton's forward coach and later become head coach in 2021.
He was appointed head coach of Sale Sharks ahead of the 2025-26 season but left in December 2025. In Jan 2026 he was announced as the interim head coach of the Georgian National Team until June 2026. After that he will become the forwards coach
Career
 |
Georgia Head Coach |
2026 - present |
 |
Petrarca No 5 Lock |
1999 - 2004 |
 |
Narbonne No 5 Lock |
2004 - 2006 |
 |
Gloucester Rugby No 5 Lock |
2006 - 2010 |
 |
Aironi No 5 Lock |
2010 - 2012 |
 |
Italy No 5 Lock |
2001 - 2015 |
 |
Zebre Parma No 5 Lock |
2012 - 2016 |
 |
Benetton Rugby Head Coach |
2023 - 2025 |
 |
Sale Sharks Head Coach |
2025 - 2026 |
