Fabio Roselli has surprised me, if nobody else, by announcing a restructured squad to represent Italy in the first two rounds of the Six Nations.
I published my thoughts on 5 March (http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2025/03/05/roselli-reveals-his- hand-the-italy-squad/) about the 30 names he listed then. Now he extends it by six, adding five uncapped players, which, given my concerns, is excellent news.
But the same limitations prevail. Then, only one player came from beyond the trinity of Colorno, Valsugana and Villorba. Now, of the added newcomers, only one comes from elsewhere, Desiree Spirelli, and she plays for the well-known club, Benetton, in Treviso. That leaves us wondering why that distinguished name has not appeared more frequently. Shortage of playing numbers has been a factor over recent years, which is a surprise, given the success of the men’s team.
With the greater competition for places Roselli has introduced, we can await the showing of the Azzurre with even greater anticipation.
This is the extended squad:
*Natascia Aggio (Valsugana), *Alia Bitonci (Valsugana), Beatrice Capomaggi (Villorba,19 caps), *Giada Corradini (Colorno), Alyssa D’Inca’ (Villorba, 26), Giordana Duca (Valsugana, 52), Valeria Fedrighi (Colorno, 58), Giada Franco (Colorno, 32), Alessandra Frangipani (Villorba, 11)
Francesca Granzotto (Unione Rugby Capitolina, 16), Laura Gurioli (Villorba, 13), Isabella Locatelli (Colorno, 51), Veronica Madia (Colorno, 52), Sara Mannini (Colorno, 4), Gaia Maris (Valsugana, 32), Aura Muzzo (Villorba, 49), Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi (Valsugana, 37), Alessia Pilani (Colorno, 7), Beatrice Rigoni (Sale Sharks, 79), Sara Seye (Trailfinders Women, 27), Francesca Sgorbini (ASM Romagnat, 28), *Desiree Spirelli (Benetton), Emanuela Stecca (Villorba, 13), Sofia Stefan (Sale Sharks, 91), Emma Stevanin (Valsugana, 19), Sara Tounesi (Montpellier, 43), Silvia Turani (Harlequins, 37), Vittoria Vecchini (Valsugana, 31), Beatrice Veronese (Valsugana, 22), Vittoria Zanette (LOU, Lyon, 1), Gaia Buso (Colorno, 2), Sofia Ctellani (Colorno, 3), *Chiara Cheli (Colorno), *Mascia Jelic (Colorno), Elisa Giordano (Valsugana, 69), Michela Sillari (Valsugana, 87)
*uncapped
The last six names (Buso – Sillari) are “invited along”, which raises doubts about the full fitness of the returning captain, Elisa Giordano, and the prize place-kicker, Michela Sillari.
Italy’s first two fixtures
23 March v England, York
30 March v Ireland, Parma
