Italy on the hunt for new head coach and WXV training squad named

Italy have confirmed the departure of Fabio Roselli as the team’s head coach upon the announcement of a WXV Global Series training squad.

The training squad will be led by interim head coach Plinio Sciamanna. Italy will play home fixtures against Japan and South Africa in September. In October the Azzurre will play two Tests agains the USA Women’s Eagles in Texas and Tennessee.

Roselli was head coach of Italy for 18 months and saw his team win seven of the 15 matches he presided over. This included Italy’s pool stage exit from Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 after losses to France and South Africa.

Sciamanna takes over after nearly five years as an assistant with Italy’s women’s national team. The 39-year-old also led Rugby Colorno’s women in Serie A Elite for four years before coaching with the Azzurre full-time.

At this year’s Guinness Women’s Six Nations, Italy registered impressive wins against Wales and Scotland, and placed fourth in the Championship behind England, France and Italy.

Alessandra Frangipani and Giulia Cavina have both been recalled to Italy camp, as has 98 cap centre Michela Sillari.

Silvia Fent is also named in the squad has previously taken part in national team training squads, but is yet to earn a first senior cap.

Natascia Aggio, Laura Lina Moscato, Rubina Grassi and Mascia Jelic are the other uncapped players in the squad.

JAECOO Premiershipo Women’s Rugby bound back Sara Mannini is named in the squad, but there are no places in the squad for Sale Sharks’ Beatrice Rigoni or recent Gloucester Hartpury signing Vittoria Vecchini.

Italy WXV Global Series training squad

Natascia Aggio (Valsugana Rugby Padova, debutant)
Alia Antonietta Bitonci (Valsugana Rugby Padua, 15 caps)
Gaia Buso (Verredissima Villorba Rugby, 6 caps)
Sofia Catellani (Lons Section Paloise, 3 caps)
Giulia Cavina (AC Bobigny 93 Rugby, 5 caps)
Chiara Cheli (Verredissima Villorba Rugby, 4 caps)
Giada Corradini (Montpellier Rugby Féminin, 2 caps)
Electra Constantini (Valsugana Rugby Padua, 2 caps)
Gaia Dosi (Rugby Parma, 2 caps)
Giordana Duca (Valsugana Rugby Padua, 65 caps)
Silvia Fent (Benetton Rugby Treviso, debutant)
Laura Lina Foscato (CUS Milano Rugby, debutant)
Alessandra Frangipani (Verredissima Villorba Rugby, 16 caps)
Elisa Giordano (Valsugana Rugby Padua, 83 caps)
Francesca Granzotto (Exeter Chiefs, 28 caps)
Rubina Grassi (RCTPM Toulon, debutant)
Mascia Jelic (Benetton Rugby Treviso, debutant)
Veronica Madia (Blagnac Rugby, 65 caps)
Sara Mannini (Harlequins Women, 17 caps)
Aura Muzzo (ASM Clermont, 63 caps)
Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi (Grenoble Amazones, 49 caps)
Alessia Pilani (Stade Bordelais Rugby, 12 caps)
Alissa Ranuccini (ASM Clermont, 23 caps)
Francesca Sgorbini (ASM Clermont, 42 caps)
Michela Sillari (Valsugana Rugby Padua, 98 caps)
Sofia Stefan (RCTPM Toulon, 106 caps)
Emma Stevanin (Grenoble Amazones, 32 caps)
Margherita Tonellotto (Valsugana Rugby Padua, 1 chapter)
Silvia Turani (Harlequins, 53 caps)
Vittoria Zanette (Blagnac Rugby, 7 caps)