# Italy women's national rugby union team

The Italy women's national rugby union team 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.

## History

On 22 June 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.
* Italy women's national rugby union team in 2013.
* Italy women's national rugby union team in 2014 during 6 nations tournament.

## Records
### Rugby World Cup

Rugby World Cup :
| Year | Round | Position | GP | W | D | L | PF | PA |
| 1991 | Plate semi-final | N/A | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 34 | 31 |
| 1994 | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate |
| 1998 | 11th place playoff | 12th | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 108 | 81 |
| 2002 | 11th place playoff | 12th | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 45 | 121 |
| 2006 | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate |
| 2010 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2014 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2017 | 9th place playoff | 9th | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 75 | 117 |
| 2021 | Quarter-final | – | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 58 | 79 |
| 2025 | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified |
| 2029 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 2033 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| Total | 5/9 | 9th$^†$ | 22 | 8 | 0 | 14 | 320 | 429 |
| Champion Runner-up Third place Fourth place * Tied placing $^†$ Best placing Home venue |||||||||

### Six Nations

| | Italy |
| Tournaments | 16 |
| Outright Wins | 0 |
| Grand Slams | 0 |
| Triple Crowns | — |
| Wooden Spoons | 3 |

### Rugby Europe Women's Championship

| Competition | | | | Total |
| European Championship | 3 | 1 | 3 | 7 |

### Overall

See: List of Italy women's national rugby union team matches
(Full internationals only) Correct as of 11 February 2023

## Players
### Current squad

Fabio Roselli announced Italy's 30-player squad for the Women's Six Nations Championship on 5 March 2025.
| Player | Position | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Club/province |
| Laura Gurioli | Hooker | (1995-02-02)2 February 1995 (aged 30) | 13 | Villorba Rugby |
| Vittoria Vecchini | Hooker | (2002-01-13)13 January 2002 (aged 23) | 31 | Valsugana Rugby Padova |
| Gaia Maris | Prop | (2001-12-05)5 December 2001 (aged 23) | 32 | Valsugana Rugby Padova |
| Alessia Pilani | Prop | (1999-03-06)6 March 1999 (aged 26) | 7 | Rugby Colorno |
| Sara Seye | Prop | (2000-08-26)26 August 2000 (aged 24) | 27 | Ealing Trailfinders |
| Emanuela Stecca | Prop | (1997-02-24)24 February 1997 (aged 28) | 13 | Villorba Rugby |
| Silvia Turani | Prop | (1995-07-06)6 July 1995 (aged 29) | 37 | Harlequins |
| Giordana Duca | Lock | (1992-09-18)18 September 1992 (aged 32) | 52 | Valsugana Rugby Padova |
| Valeria Fedrighi | Lock | (1992-09-05)5 September 1992 (aged 32) | 58 | Rugby Colorno |
| Sara Tounesi | Lock | (1995-07-19)19 July 1995 (aged 29) | 43 | Montpellier Hérault Rugby |
| Ilaria Arrighetti | Back row | (1993-03-02)2 March 1993 (aged 32) | 62 | Stade Rennais Rugby |
| Giada Franco | Back row | (1996-07-11)11 July 1996 (aged 28) | 32 | Rugby Colorno |
| Alessandra Frangipani | Back row | (2003-07-12)12 July 2003 (aged 21) | 11 | Villorba Rugby |
| Elisa Giordano (c) | Back row | (1990-11-01)1 November 1990 (aged 34) | 69 | Valsugana Rugby Padova |
| Isabella Locatelli | Back row | (1994-10-23)23 October 1994 (aged 30) | 51 | Rugby Colorno |
| Alissa Ranuccini | Back row | (2000-06-28)28 June 2000 (aged 24) | 10 | Rugby Colorno |
| Francesca Sgorbini | Back row | (2001-01-07)7 January 2001 (aged 24) | 28 | ASM Romagnat Rugby |
| Beatrice Veronese | Back row | (1996-03-11)11 March 1996 (aged 29) | 22 | Valsugana Rugby Padova |
| Francesca Granzotto | Scrum-half | (2002-03-22)22 March 2002 (aged 23) | 16 | Unione Rugby Capitolina |
| Sofia Stefan | Scrum-half | (1992-05-12)12 May 1992 (aged 32) | 91 | Sale Sharks |
| Veronica Madia | Fly-half | (1995-01-16)16 January 1995 (aged 30) | 52 | Rugby Colorno |
| Emma Stevanin | Fly-half | (2002-04-11)11 April 2002 (aged 22) | 19 | Valsugana Rugby Padova |
| Alia Bitonci | Centre | (2006-03-27)27 March 2006 (aged 18) | uncapped | Valsugana Rugby Padova |
| Alyssa D'Inca | Centre | (2002-03-23)23 March 2002 (aged 22) | 26 | Villorba Rugby |
| Sara Mannini | Centre | (2005-08-28)28 August 2005 (aged 19) | 4 | Rugby Colorno |
| Beatrice Rigoni | Centre | (1995-08-01)1 August 1995 (aged 29) | 79 | Sale Sharks |
| Michela Sillari | Centre | (1993-02-23)23 February 1993 (aged 32) | 87 | Valsugana Rugby Padova |
| Aura Muzzo | Wing | (1997-04-12)12 April 1997 (aged 27) | 49 | Villorba Rugby |
| Beatrice Capomaggi | Fullback | (1997-04-29)29 April 1997 (aged 27) | 19 | Villorba Rugby |
| Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi | Fullback | (2001-12-06)6 December 2001 (aged 23) | 37 | Valsugana Rugby Padova |

### Award winners
#### World Rugby Awards

The following Italy players have been recognised at the World Rugby Awards since 2001:
World Rugby Women's 15s Dream Team of the Year :
| Year | Forwards | Forwards | Backs | Backs | Total |
| Year | No. | Players | No. | Players | Total |
| 2021 | — | — | 12. | Beatrice Rigoni | 1 |
World Rugby Women's 15s Try of the Year :
| Year | Date | Nominee | Match | Tournament | Winner |
| 2021 | 13 September | Sara Barattin | vs. Scotland | World Cup Qualifying | — |
| 2023 | 15 April | Sofia Stefan | vs. Ireland | Six Nations | Sofia Stefan |
| 2024 | 20 April | Alyssa D'Incà | vs. Scotland | Six Nations | — |

#### Six Nations Awards

The following Italy players have been recognised in the Women's Six Nations Awards since 2020:
Six Nations Try of the Championship :
| Year | Nominee | Match | Winner | Ref |
| 2024 | Alyssa D'Incà | vs. France | Alyssa D'Incà | |
Six Nations Team of the Championship :
| Year | Forwards | Forwards | Backs | Backs | Total |
| Year | No. | Players | No. | Players | Total |
| 2022 | — | — | 11. | Maria Magatti | 2 |
| 2022 | — | — | 12. | Beatrice Rigoni | 2 |
| 2023 | — | — | — | — | 0 |
| 2024 | — | — | 12. | Beatrice Rigoni (2) | 2 |
| 2024 | — | — | 14. | Alyssa D'Incà | 2 |