He represented Taranaki in rugby at under-14 through under-18 levels and gained Hurricanes under-16 tournament team selection in 2012. While studying at Otago University for three years, Riccitelli played for the Southern club in Dunedin and also captained the Otago under-19s. In 2015, Riccitelli departed for the Under 20 World Championship in Italy, regularly spending time doing skill sessions with former Highlanders assistant coach Jon Preston. Having also turned out for New Zealand U20's in the Oceania Junior Championship earlier in the year, Riccitelli went on to feature in seven out of eight of the Baby Blacks' games, (including their historic win over England in the U20 WC final), starting at loosehead prop.