2026 WXV Global Series preview: Italy

Italy go into the WXV Global Series in a state of flux. They have a new coach, new players have been blooded and while the side has risen through the rankings, many of the same problems remain.

Plinio Sciamanna is the man tasked with guiding the Azzurre through the tournament, shortly after he was appointed head coach after Fabio Roselli’s departure from the role after 18 months.

Roselli was well-liked and continued Italy’s development as a team with a rapier-like attack in the backline, but there were times when results and performances didn’t reflect the team’s potential.

Sciamanna knows the squad and the staff well after five years as one of the team’s assistant coaches, and four years leading Colorno’s women’s team.

Italy begin with home matches against Japan and South Africa in September, before two clashes away to the USA in October.

Recent form

Italy’s latest result was an impressive 43-24 win over Wales in Cardiff that featured seven tries. It rounded off their Guinness Women’s Six Nations campaign to ensure they finished in fourth place.

Before then they suffered the expected defeats to France and England, and Ireland put 57 points on them to show that the gap between the top three in Europe’s annual rugby shindig and the bottom three is widening. Only two years ago, the Azzurre left Dublin with an impressive 27-21 victory.

Their best performance came in Parma when they scored seven tries to defeat Scotland 41-14. They also showed their famed grinta [determination] and scored five tries despite being under the pump for most of the match at home against England.

The wins and positive ending helped shake off the hangover of a highly disappointing Women’s Rugby World Cup showing in 2025. Hopes had been high that they would match their quarter-final finish from New Zealand 2022, but they slunk out of the tournament in disappointing fashion.

Italy barely threw a punch against France in their opener and were punished for a lackadaisical opening half against South Africa in York. They fought back in the second half but couldn’t find a response to Sinazo Mcatshulwa’s try and left with nary a whimper.

They beat Brazil before leaving, but it was scant consolation and it took some time for Roselli to pick the team up again. Now they are on an upswing, and the four matches offer the chance to keep momentum upwards.

Biggest Tests

Italy will be confident of beating Japan in their opener after they enjoyed a 33-14 win in their most recent encounter in the build-up to last year’s World Cup.

It would be little surprise if the match against South Africa has been circled ever since the end of the Women’s Six Nations. Roselli’s team was rocked back by Aseza Hele’s second minute try, and Nadine Roos proved a handful at full-back and scrum-half. She scored their second to open a 12-point gap. Italy scored four tries but left more points out there as a result of their own errors and South Africa’s manic defence.

Both tests will take place at Stadio Omero Tognon in Fontanafredda, deep in Italian rugby country in the peninsula’s north-east. They should attract a decent crowd and give the hosts an edge to their performance.

Win those and the Azzurre will cross the Atlantic in good heart to face a USA Eagles team that tied their two-test tour to South Africa in July. Lose and they will use the intervening weeks to re-galvanise themselves against a team that will test them physically as much as South Africa will.

Star players

Wherever she plays across the back-row, Francesca Sgorbini, offers the same three things, hard carrying, hard tackling and hard work over the ball.

The 24-year-old has packed plenty into her career. Sgorbini has won 42 Italy caps and played at two Women’s World Cups, the first in 2022 after she had fought back from ruptured knee ligaments that put her participation in doubt.

She was also in the vanguard of Italian players moving abroad to play professionally, in her case with ASM Clermont in 2020. By then the Pesaro-born player had already helped Colorno win the 2019 Italian championship at the tender age of 18, the same year she made her Italy debut, against England in Exeter.

Once across the Alps in rugby-mad Clermont Auvergne, Sgorbini quickly settled in as she helped the Jaunards win the Elite 1 title.

Sgorbini is one of those players whose performances improve relative to the level of opposition. Against England this year, she came off the bench to score two tries. She also led the way for Italy with 63 carries in the tournament,16 dominant contacts and 84 metres post-contact.

Together with captain and No.8 Elisa Giordano and fellow ASM flanker Alissa Ranuccini, the trio have shown their importance to the team. Giordano showed her ability to snaffle breakdown ball in the Women’s Six Nations with five, while Ranuccini was Italy’s leading tackler with 64.

They will be vital in WXV Global Series action, firstly to slow down Japan’s quickfire ruck, and then to face the ever-aggressive South Africa and USA packs.

Squad news

All three are part of Sciamanna’s first squad as interim head coach, which features five uncapped players and 16 players who play outside Italy in the 30.

Of their likely starting back three, two play in France; full-back Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi of Grenoble Amazones, and ASM winger Aura Muzzo, while winger Francesca Granzotto stars in the JAECOO Premiership Women’s Rugby for Exeter Chiefs.

Alyssa D’Inca, another France-based player, who has recently moved from centre to wing, is injured which means a recall for 33-year-old Michela Sillari, who is two caps short of her century and brings experience to the midfield.

Prediction

Italy come unstuck when they start slowly or when they face teams such as England and France, who have greater pedigree and are expected to win.

The order of fixtures work in their favour. Japan should offer a comfortable win in their opener, and that should give them confidence for the vital clash against South Africa, who will be aiming to build on their momentum from the World Cup.

If they haven’t learned the lessons of starting slowly from York, then trouble will be coming their way. If Sciamanna has his pack drilled and ready to fight fire with fire, then there is a very good chance of a second win.

The FIR deserves praise for organising both matches in the same venue. It means the team can build a base and momentum there without upping sticks to another stadium, while schmoozing fans over the fortnight to ensure seats are filled.

Once they head Stateside they will quickly be disabused of any idea of southern hospitality during their time in Dallas and Nashville. USA have few chances to show their domestic audience what they can do, and they will be determined to take advantage of any openings that Italy offer.

Two home wins and one on the road should be their target.