Andrea Di Giandomenico has announced the names of 26 players to meet up for training in preparation for the Six Nations:
Sara BARATTIN (Arredissima Villorba, 95 caps)
Lucia CAMMARANO (Rugby Belve Neroverdi, 24 caps)
Giulia CAVINA (CUS Milan, uncapped)
Giulia CERATO (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 5 caps)
Alyssa D’INCA ‘(Arredissima Villorba, uncapped)
Giordana DUCA (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 18 caps)
Giada FRANCO (Rugby Colorno, 17 caps)
Manuela FURLAN (Arredissima Villorba, 75 caps)
Lucia GAI (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 70 caps)
Elisa GIORDANO (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 43 caps)
Isabella LOCATELLI (Rugby Monza 1949)
Veronica MADIA (Rugby Colorno, 19 caps)
Maria MAGATTI (CUS Milano, 33 caps)
Gaia MARIS (Valsugana Rugby Padua, uncapped)
Michela MERLO (Kawasaki R. Calvisano, 8 caps)
Aura MUZZO (Arredissima Villorba, 13 caps)
Vittoria OSTUNI MINUZZI (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 4 caps)
Laura PAGANINI (CUS Milano, 3 caps)
Beatrice RIGONI (Valsugana Padova, 43 caps)
Sofia ROLFI (Rugby Colorno, uncapped)
Francesca SBERNA (Kawasaki R. Calvisano, 6 caps)
Michela SILLARI (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 57 caps)
Erika SKOFCA (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 2 caps)
Sofia STEFAN (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 56 caps)
Silvia TURANI (FC Grenoble, France, 16 caps)
Beatrice VERONESE (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 4 caps)
Melissa Bettoni and Valeria Fedrighi are two important names missing. Of the latest twins to feature in the 6N it is the uncapped Giulia who is named; her sister Micol (3 caps) who played against England at Bedford misses out. The other newcomers are Alyssa D’Incà (scrum-half/centre), Gaia Maris (loose-head) and a name more familiar to British eyes, Sofia Rolfi, who scored her debut try for Wasps last year.
The great Sara Barattin creeps ever closer to a memorable 100th cap; what an irony that she could have achieved it with a full 6N programme this year. She is already the Italian record-holder.
The group meets up in Parma on the weekend of 12-14 March. Their first match is against England in Padua on the weekend 10-11 April, then they are away to Scotland a week later.
