Italian
The head coach of the Italian Women’s Rugby National Team, Fabio Roselli, has announced the 34 Azzurre for the upcoming Guinness Women’s Six Nations 2026
ROME – After the conclusion of the men’s Six Nations, preparations are heating up for the Guinness Women’s Six Nations 2026. The head coach of the Italian Women’s Rugby National Team, Fabio Roselli, has officially announced the list of 34 Azzurre in the squad. Following the recent departures of Sara Tounesi, Ilaria Arrighetti, and Isabella Locatelli, the roster includes as many as seven debutants who will join the veterans of the group.
This will be the first call-up for Gaia Dosi, Chiara Cheli, Francesca Andreoli, Elettra Costantini, Natascia Aggio, Rubina Grassi, and Gabriella Serio. The National team will meet in Rome at the CPO Giulio Onesti on March 31, with a list of call-ups in preparation for the debut in Grenoble against France, which will be announced in the coming days.
The statements
These are the words of the coach Roselli analyzing the choices:
“Assembling the squad for this Guinness Six Nations has certainly been a very stimulating process for the entire staff. We have always aimed to give more depth to our team: to achieve this, thanks to the excellent relationships we have established with the club staff, in addition to all the athletes competing in the Italian Serie A Elite league, we also monitor around twenty Italian players in France and four in England during the season, for a total of twenty-one clubs, eight in Italy and thirteen abroad.
We are also working closely with the Italy U21 staff to see if and when some young players who are developing well could make their debut in the Senior National Team. Therefore, there is a possibility that additional players may join during the tournament. We have tried to identify a balanced squad in all positions considering, in the various leagues, the level of performance, continuity, playing time, physical condition, injuries, and the availability of athletes based on their work and academic situations, which has always been an important challenge for the entire movement. After three days of gathering in Rome with part of the U21 National Team in January, we look forward to coming together again to continue consolidating and developing our identity and the playing model established last season.”
The 34 for the Six Nations
Below is the squad of Italy for the Guinness Women’s Six Nations 2026, divided by roles:
PILES:
Gaia DOSI (Rugby Colorno, debutant)
Gaia MARIS (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 42 caps)
Alessia PILANI (Stade Bordelais Rugby, 9 caps)
Silvia TURANI (Harlequins, 47 caps)
Vittoria ZANETTE (LOU Rugby, 2 caps)
HOOKERS:
Chiara CHELI (Rugby Colorno, debutant)
Desiree SPINELLI (Benetton Rugby Treviso, 5 caps)
Vittoria VECCHINI (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 41 caps)
SECOND ROWS:
Francesca ANDREOLI (Rugby Colorno, debutant)
Elettra COSTANTINI (Valsugana Rugby Padova, debutant)
Giordana DUCA (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 60 caps)
Valeria FEDRIGHI (Rugby Colorno, 67 caps)
Alessandra FRANGIPANI (Villorba Rugby, 13 caps)
BACK ROWS:
Elena ERRICHIELLO (Unione Rugby Capitolina, 1 cap)
Elisa GIORDANO (Captain, Valsugana Rugby Padova, 78 caps)
Alissa RANUCCINI (LOU Rugby, 18 caps)
Francesca SGORBINI (ASM Clermont Rugby, 37 caps)
Beatrice VERONESE (RCTPM Toulon, 31 caps)
SCRUM HALVES:
Alia BITONCI (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 10 caps)
Gaia BUSO (Villorba Rugby, 4 caps)
Sofia STEFAN (RCTPM Toulon, 101 caps)
FLY HALVES:
Veronica MADIA (Blagnac Rugby, 60 caps)
Emma STEVANIN (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 27 caps)
CENTRES:
Natascia AGGIO (Valsugana Rugby Padova, debutant)
Micol CAVINA (AC Bobigny, 5 caps)
Giada CORRADINI (Montpellier Herault Rugby, 2 caps)
Alyssa D’INCÀ (Blagnac Rugby, 35 caps)
Sara MANNINI (Rugby Colorno, 12 caps)
Michela SILLARI (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 94 caps)
WINGS/EXTREMES:
Francesca GRANZOTTO (Exeter Chiefs, 24 caps)
Rubina GRASSI (RCTPM Toulon, debutant)
Aura MUZZO (LOU Rugby, 58 caps)
Vittoria OSTUNI MINUZZI (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 44 caps)
Gabriella SERIO (Rugby Colorno, debutant)
Unavailable athletes due to injury:
Sara SEYE (Ealing Trailfinders)
The composition of the Azzurre staff:
Head Coach: Fabio ROSELLI
Forward Coach: Plinio SCIAMANNA
Defense Coach: Francesco IANNUCCI
Team Manager: Giuliana CAMPANELLA
Fitness Coach: Mario DISETTI
Video Analyst: David FONZI
Doctor: Cecilia DI BIAGIO
Physiotherapist: Giacomo CHIUSSO
Physiotherapist: Riccardo CESARONI
Head of Delegation: Fabio BERALDIN
Nutritionist: Andrea BARBIERI
Content Creator: Riccardo FERMANI
Media Manager: Alessandro FERRI
Sports Psychologist: Alessia PECCHINI
