Seven potential debutants named as Italy look to ‘expand their player pool’ at WXV

New Italy head coach Plinio Sciamanna has named a 38-player Italy squad for the team’s WXV Global Series campaign in September and October.

The Azzurre will play home fixtures against Japan and South Africa, before a two-match tour of North America to take on the USA Women’s Eagles.

Sciamanna’s squad is comprised of 22 forwards and 16 backs. There are seven debutants included in the playing group.

This includes Lyon lock Francesca Andreoli and her new club mate Mascia Jelic, Benetton hooker Silvia Fent, Milano prop Laura Moscato, Valsugana midfielder Natascia Aggio, Toulon back three Rubina Grassi and Valsugana fly-half Vittoria Zeni.

They are joined in the squad by the vastly experienced Elisa Giordano, Sofia Stefan, Michela Sillari, Giordana Duca, Silvia Turani, Veronica Madia and Aura Muzzo.

Sillari is in line to earn her 100th cap for Italy if included in match day squads for home Test matches against the Sakura Fifteen and Springbok Women.

Plinio Sciamanna, Italy head coach, said: “The WXV Global Series marks the beginning of a journey for us. We have four high-level matches ahead against opponents with very different playing styles, and we want to use every moment of this cycle to grow as a team.

“At this stage, our goal is to build a solid foundation: developing a clear identity, raising individual and collective standards, and fostering greater competition within the squad.

“We want to expand the pool of players capable of competing at this level, without ever separating player development from the need to be competitive every time we take the field.

“These matches will therefore be a crucial step in gauging where we stand, testing what we are building, and continuing to raise the team’s level.”

Italy 2026 WXV Global Series squad

Forwards
Francesca Andreoli (LOU Rugby, uncapped)
Giulia Cavina (AC Bobigny, 5 caps)
Chiara Cheli (Arredissima Villorba Rugby, 4 caps)
Elettra Costantini (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 2 caps)
Gaia Dosi (Rugby Parma FC, 2 caps)
Giordana Duca (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 65 caps)
Elena Errichiello (Unione Rugby Capitolina, 1 cap)
Silvia Fent (Benetton Rugby Treviso, uncapped)
Laura Foscato (CUS Milano Rugby, uncapped)
Alessandra Frangipani (Arredissima Villorba Rugby, 16 caps)
Elisa Giordano (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 83 caps)
Mascia Jelic (Benetton Rugby Treviso, uncapped)
Gaia Maris (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 47 caps)
Alessia Pilani (Stade Bordelais Rugby, 12 caps)
Alissa Ranuccini (ASM Clermont, 23 caps)
Francesca Sgorbini (ASM Clermont, 42 caps)
Desiree Spinelli (Benetton Rugby Treviso, 5 caps)
Margherita Tonellotto (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 1 cap)
Silvia Turani (Harlequins, 52 caps)
Vittoria Vecchini (Gloucester Hartpury, 46 caps)
Beatrice Veronese (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 35 caps)
Vittoria Zanette (Blagnac Rugby, 7 caps)

Backs
Natascia Aggio (Valsugana Rugby Padova, uncapped)
Alia Bitonci (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 15 caps)
Gaia Buso (Arredissima Villorba Rugby, 6 caps)
Sofia Catellani (Lons Section Paloise, 3 caps)
Giada Corradini (Montpellier Herault Rugby, 2 caps)
Alyssa D’Incà (Blagnac Rugby, 40 caps)
Francesca Granzotto (Exeter Chiefs, 28 caps)
Rubina Grassi (RCTPM Toulon, uncapped)
Veronica Madia (Blagnac Rugby, 65 caps)
Sara Mannini (Harlequins, 17 caps)
Aura Muzzo (ASM Clermont, 63 caps)
Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi (Grenoble Amazones, 49 caps)
Michela Sillari (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 98 caps)
Sofia Stefan (RCTPM Toulon, 106 caps)
Emma Stevanin (Grenoble Amazones, 32 caps)
Vittoria Zeni (Valsugana Rugby Padova, uncapped)