Francesca Granzotto

Last updated

Francesca Granzotto
Francesca Granzotto 2023 cropped.jpg
Granzotto in 2023 after a test against Spain
Born (2002-03-22) 22 March 2002 (age 23)
Height163 cm (5 ft 4 in)
Weight59 kg (130 lb; 9 st 4 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing, Full-back
Senior career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2019–2020 Hove (0)
2020–2021 Villorba (0)
2021–2025 Capitolina (0)
2025– Exeter Chiefs (0)
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2022– Italy 24 (54)

Francesca Granzotto (born 22 March 2002) is an Italian rugby union player. She competed for Italy in the 2021 and 2025 Women's Rugby World Cups.

Contents

Early career

Granzotto grew up in Conegliano and joined their rugby club as a youngster, she then played for Villorba's youth team, with whom she won several junior tournaments at national level. She spent a year at Worthing College near Brighton, where she played for the college team and for Hove RC.

She returned to Italy and played for Villorba. In 2021, she enrolled at Luiss University in Rome to study political economy, she also played for Capitolina.

Rugby career

Granzotto made her international debut for Italy in July 2022 in Langford, British Columbia, during a test match against Canada in preparation for the delayed 2021 Rugby World Cup. She was eventually called up to the Italian squad for the tournament in New Zealand.

After four seasons with Capitolina in Rome, she returned to England to join the Exeter Chiefs for their 2025–26 campaign. [1] [2]

Granzotto won the Player of the Match in Italy’s last warm-up game against Japan before the World Cup. [1] She was subsequently named in the Italian squad for the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup in England. [3] [4] She scored a hat-trick in her sides final pool game against Brazil. [5]

References

  1. 1 2 "Italy's Player of the Match Granzotto named in World Cup squad". www.exeterchiefs.co.uk. Retrieved 3 October 2025.
  2. "Francesca Granzotto: Exeter agree deal for Italy winger after World Cup". BBC Sport. 5 June 2025. Retrieved 3 October 2025.
  3. Lomax, Lucy (19 August 2025). "Ten breakthrough players to watch at this World Cup". Rugby Pass. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
  4. "Italy name experienced squad for Women's RWC 2025". Rugby World Cup 2025 England. 8 November 2025. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  5. "ITA 64-3 BRA: Convincing Italy victory proves little consolation for early exit". Rugby World Cup 2025 England. 9 July 2025. Retrieved 3 October 2025.