Italy women's national rugby union team

Last updated

Italy
Nickname(s)Le Azzurre (The Blues)
UnionFederazione Italiana Rugby
Head coachGiovanni Raineri
Captain Elisa Giordano
Most caps Sara Barattin (111)
Top scorer Veronica Schiavon (383)
Top try scorer Manuela Furlan (20)
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First colours
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Second colours
World Rugby ranking
Current6 (as of 15 April 2024)
First international
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 0–0 France  Flag of France.svg
( Riccione, Italy; 22 June 1985)
Biggest win
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 0–52 Italy  Flag of Italy.svg
( Hamburg, Germany; 7 April 2005)
Biggest defeat
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 0–74 England  Flag of England.svg
( Parma, Italy; 3 April 2022)
World Cup
Appearances4 (First in 1991)
Best result9th 2017
Top 20 rankings as of 15 April 2024 [1]
RankChange*TeamPoints
1Steady2.svgFlag of England.svg  England 096.18
2Steady2.svgFlag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 090.56
3Steady2.svgFlag of France.svg  France 088.00
4Steady2.svgFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 086.27
5Steady2.svgFlag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 081.61
6Steady2.svgFlag of Italy.svg  Italy 076.50
7Steady2.svgFlag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 075.80
8Steady2.svgFlag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 073.41
9Steady2.svgFlag of the United States.svg  United States 072.57
10Steady2.svgIRFU flag.svg  Ireland 072.35
11Steady2.svgFlag of Japan.svg  Japan 069.38
12Steady2.svgFlag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 065.17
13Steady2.svgFlag of Spain.svg  Spain 065.15
14Steady2.svgFlag of Russia.svg  Russia 061.10
15Steady2.svgFlag of Samoa.svg  Samoa 059.57
16Steady2.svgFlag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 058.98
17Steady2.svgFlag of Fiji.svg  Fiji 058.65
18Steady2.svgFlag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong 058.31
19Steady2.svgFlag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan 055.97
20Steady2.svgFlag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 052.72
*Change from the previous week

The Italy women's national rugby union team (Italian : nazionale di rugby a 15 dell'Italia) are the national women's rugby union team that represents Italy at international level. It has been administered by the Italian Rugby Federation since 1991; previously, since its inception in 1985 up to 1991, it was administered by UISP – Unione Italiana Sport Popolari (Italian Union for People's Sports), an association which promotes amateur sports at every level of the society. The team competes in the Rugby World Cup, the Rugby Europe Women's Championship and the Women's Six Nations Championship.

Contents

History

On June 22, 1985 the Italian women's national team made their international debut against France. The match ended 0–0, they played again a year later in Bardos, with France winning 12–0. Italy scored their first points in their third match against France when the two neighbors met in Rome in 1987, France won 16–4.

In 1988 Italy participated in the first European championship organized in Bourg-en-Bresse in France by the local women's club. In addition to the hosts, the other two participants were Great Britain and the Netherlands. Italy finished last with three losses. The inaugural edition of this championship, while significant for being the first competition for women's national teams, was never recognized as official by FIRA.

Italian Rugby Federation entry

In 1991 the management of women's rugby was handed over to the Italian Rugby Federation. Their first commitment was the selection of the team for the inaugural edition of the World Cup which was held in April of that same year in Wales. The Azzurre, after having finished last in their pool, were placed in the Plate quarter-finals. They had their first victory in the tournament after defeating Sweden 18–0 in the Plate quarter-final but lost to Canada 6–0 in the Plate semi-final.

The progress of the national team was slow. In their first 15 years of existence, up to the end of 2000, they played in only 33 official matches. In 1995 they came third in the European championship organized at home in Treviso, a result equaled one year later in Madrid, Spain. After a first round elimination with a sixth place finish at the 1997 European Championship, they finished 12th at the 1998 Women's Rugby World Cup in the Netherlands.

They finished 7th at the 1999 European Championship and 8th in 2001. They won their first Nations Cup title in Veneto in 2002 ahead of the Rugby World Cup, in which Italy finished in twelfth place. Italy won the 2005 European Championship which was held in Hamburg in Germany. In the 2006 Nations Cup Italy successfully defended their title.

Admission to the Six Nations

In December 2006, the Executive Committee of the Six Nations decided to align the composition of all competitions of the tournament with the men's, which included England, Wales, Ireland, Scotland, France and Italy; at the time the only difference with the women's tournament was the presence of Spain, which the committee replaced with Italy starting in 2007.

Records

Rugby World Cup

Rugby World Cup
YearRoundPositionGPWDLPFPA
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg 1991 Plate semi-finalN/A41033431
Flag of Scotland.svg 1994 Did not participate
Flag of the Netherlands.svg 1998 11th place playoff12th520310881
Flag of Spain.svg 2002 11th place playoff12th410345121
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg 2006 Did not participate
Flag of England.svg 2010 Did not qualify
Flag of France.svg 2014
IRFU flag.svg 2017 9th place playoff9th520375117
Flag of New Zealand.svg 2021 Quarter-final42025879
Total5/99th228014320429
 Champions  Runners-up   Third place   Fourth placeHome venue

Six Nations

Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
Tournaments16
Outright Wins0
Grand Slams0
Triple Crowns
Wooden Spoons3

Rugby Europe Women's Championship

CompetitionGold medal icon.svgSilver medal icon.svgBronze medal icon.svgTotal
European Championship 3137

Overall

See: List of Italy women's national rugby union team matches

(Full internationals only)
Correct as of 11 February 2023

Rugby: Italy internationals 1985-
OpponentFirst gamePlayedWonDrawnLostPercentage
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 20061100100.00%
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 199120020.00%
Flag of England.svg  England 19912300230.00%
Flag of France.svg  France 198526402212.50%
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 198820020.00%
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 19967700100.00%
IRFU flag.svg  Ireland 199720201810.00%
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 2002431066.67%
Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan 200120020.00%
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 1988850362.50%
Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 19984400100.00%
Flag of Samoa.svg  Samoa 20131100100.00%
Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 199522151668.18%
Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 20181100100.00%
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 199115601033.33%
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 1991850362.50%
Flag of the United States.svg  United States 2012310233.33%
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 199921711333.33%
Summary198516457310434.76%

Players

Current squad

Italy's 31-player squad was announced on 11 March for the 2024 Women's Six Nations Championship. [2] [3] [4]

Player Position Date of birth (age)CapsClub/province
Laura Gurioli Hooker (1995-02-02)2 February 1995 (aged 29)7 Flag of Italy.svg Villorba
Vittoria Vecchini Hooker (2002-01-13)13 January 2002 (aged 22)20 Flag of Italy.svg Valsugana
Alice Cassaghi Prop (2000-11-21)21 November 2000 (aged 23)2 Flag of Italy.svg Milano
Lucia Gai Prop (1991-05-03)3 May 1991 (aged 32)95 Flag of Italy.svg Valsugana
Gaia Maris Prop (2001-07-27)27 July 2001 (aged 22)27 Flag of France.svg Romagnat
Alessia Pilani Prop (1999-05-06)6 May 1999 (aged 24)3 Flag of Italy.svg Colorno
Sara Seye Prop (2000-08-26)26 August 2000 (aged 23)20 Flag of England.svg Ealing Trailfinders
Emanuela Stecca Prop (1997-02-24)24 February 1997 (aged 27)7 Flag of Italy.svg Villorba
Silvia Turani Prop (1995-07-06)6 July 1995 (aged 28)30 Flag of England.svg Harlequins
Giordana Duca Lock (1992-09-18)18 September 1992 (aged 31)43 Flag of Italy.svg Valsugana
Valeria Fedrighi Lock (1992-09-05)5 September 1992 (aged 31)50 Flag of France.svg Toulouse
Isabella Locatelli Lock (1994-10-23)23 October 1994 (aged 29)46 Flag of Italy.svg Colorno
Sara Tounesi Lock (1995-07-19)19 July 1995 (aged 28)35 Flag of England.svg Sale Sharks
Ilaria Arrighetti Back row (1993-03-02)2 March 1993 (aged 31)57 Flag of France.svg Rennes
Giulia Cavina Back row (1999-11-15)15 November 1999 (aged 24)4 Flag of Italy.svg Milano
Giada Franco Back row (1996-07-11)11 July 1996 (aged 27)32 Flag of Italy.svg Colorno
Alessandra Frangipani Back row 5 Flag of Italy.svg Villorba
Elisa Giordano (c) Back row (1990-11-01)1 November 1990 (aged 33)65 Flag of Italy.svg Valsugana
Francesca Sgorbini Back row (2001-01-07)7 January 2001 (aged 23)20 Flag of Italy.svg Romagnat
Beatrice Veronese Back row (1996-03-11)11 March 1996 (aged 28)16 Flag of Italy.svg Valsugana
Francesca Granzotto Scrum-half (2002-03-22)22 March 2002 (aged 22)6 Flag of Italy.svg Capitolina
Sofia Stefan Scrum-half (1992-05-12)12 May 1992 (aged 31)82 Flag of Italy.svg Valsugana
Micol Cavina Fly-half (1999-11-15)15 November 1999 (aged 24)0 Flag of Italy.svg Villorba
Veronica Madia Fly-half (1995-01-16)16 January 1995 (aged 29)46 Flag of France.svg Grenoble Amazones
Emma Stevanin Fly-half (2002-04-11)11 April 2002 (aged 21)11 Flag of Italy.svg Valsugana
Beatrice Rigoni Centre (1995-08-01)1 August 1995 (aged 28)70 Flag of England.svg Sale Sharks
Michela Sillari Centre (1993-02-23)23 February 1993 (aged 31)82 Flag of Italy.svg Valsugana
Alyssa D'Incà Wing (2002-03-23)23 March 2002 (aged 22)21 Flag of Italy.svg Villorba
Aura Muzzo Wing (1997-04-12)12 April 1997 (aged 26)40 Flag of Italy.svg Villorba
Beatrice Capomaggi Fullback (1997-04-29)29 April 1997 (aged 26)12 Flag of Italy.svg Valsugana
Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi Fullback (2001-12-06)6 December 2001 (aged 22)28 Flag of Italy.svg Valsugana

Previous squads

Award winners

World Rugby Awards

The following Italy players have been recognised at the World Rugby Awards since 2001: [5]

World Rugby Women's 15s Dream Team of the Year
YearForwardsBacksTotal
No.PlayersNo.Players
202112. Beatrice Rigoni 1
World Rugby Women's 15s Try of the Year
YearDateNomineeMatchTournamentWinner
202113 September Sara Barattin vs. Scotland World Cup Qualifying
202315 AprilSofia Stefanvs. Ireland Six Nations Sofia Stefan

See also

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References

  1. "Women's World Rankings". World Rugby. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  2. Ferri, Alessandro (11 March 2024). "Nazionale Femminile, la rosa delle 30 Azzurre per il Guinness Women's Six Nations" (in Italian). Italian Rugby Federation . Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  3. Rendell, Sarah (2024-03-31). "Italy Women's Six Nations Squad 2024 - Four changes made". Rugby World. Retrieved 2024-04-08.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. "ITALY NAME 2024 GUINNESS WOMEN'S SIX NATIONS SQUAD - Guinness Women's Six Nations". www.sixnationsrugby.com. 2024-04-05. Retrieved 2024-04-08.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. "Awards Roll of Honour - World Rugby". www.world.rugby. Retrieved 16 March 2024.