Granzotto selected for Italy’s WXV Global Series squad

Exeter Chiefs Women’s winger Francesca Granzotto has been named among the 38 athletes that will make up Italy's squad for the 2026 WXV Global Series.

The competition, which comes with a renewed format, will see the Azzurre face Japan and South Africa at home on 19 and 26 September at the Omero Tognon Stadium in Fontanafredda.

After these fixtures, Italy will travel to the US, where they will face the Eagles on 17 and 24 October in Mansfield (Dallas) and Nashville respectively.

Italy's head coach Plinio Sciamanna, who will make his debut in the role in the match against Japan, said: "The WXV Global Series represents the beginning of a journey for us. We have four high-level matches ahead of us, against opponents with very different characteristics, and we want to use every moment of this cycle to grow as a team.

“At this stage, our goal is to build solid foundations: to develop a clear identity, to raise individual and collective standards and to create more and more competition within the group.

“We want to expand the number of players capable of competing at this level, without ever separating development from the need to be competitive every time we take the field. These matches will therefore be an important step to understand where we are, test what we are building and continue to raise the level of the group."

ITALY

Forwards

Francesca ANDREOLI (LOU Rugby, uncapped)
Giulia CAVINA (AC Bobigny, 5 caps)
Chiara CHELI (Arredissima Villorba Rugby, 4 caps)
Elettra COSTANTINI (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 2 caps)
Gaia DOSI (Rugby Parma FC, 2 caps)
Giordana DUCA (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 65 caps)
Elena ERRICHIELLO (Unione Rugby Capitolina, 1 cap)
Silvia FENT (Benetton Rugby Treviso, uncapped)
Laura FOSCATO (CUS Milano Rugby, uncapped)
Alessandra FRANGIPANI (Arredissima Villorba Rugby, 16 caps)
Elisa GIORDANO (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 83 caps)
Mascia JELIC (Benetton Rugby Treviso, uncapped)
Gaia MARIS (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 47 caps)
Alessia PILANI (Stade Bordelais Rugby, 12 caps)
Alissa RANUCCINI (ASM Clermont, 23 caps)
Francesca SGORBINI (ASM Clermont, 42 caps)
Desiree SPINELLI (Benetton Rugby Treviso, 5 caps)
Margherita TONELLOTTO (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 1 cap)
Silvia TURANI (Harlequins, 52 caps)
Vittoria VECCHINI (Gloucester Hartpury, 46 caps)
Beatrice VERONESE (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 35 caps)
Vittoria ZANETTE (Blagnac Rugby, 7 caps)

Backs

Natascia AGGIO (Valsugana Rugby Padova, uncapped)
Alia BITONCI (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 15 caps)
Gaia BUSO (Arredissima Villorba Rugby, 6 caps)
Sofia CATELLANI (Lons Section Paloise, 3 caps)
Giada CORRADINI (Montpellier Herault Rugby,
Alyssa D'INCÀ (Blagnac Rugby, 40 caps)
Francesca GRANZOTTO (Exeter Chiefs, 28 caps)
Rubina GRASSI (RCTPM Toulon, uncapped)
Veronica MADIA (Blagnac Rugby, 65 caps)
Sara MANNINI (Harlequins, 17 caps)
Aura MUZZO (ASM Clermont, 63 caps)
Vittoria OSTUNI MINUZZI (Grenoble Amazones, 49 caps)
Michela SILLARI (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 98 caps)
Sofia STEFAN (RCTPM Toulon, 106 caps)
Emma STEVANIN (Grenoble Amazones, 32 caps)
Vittoria ZENI (Valsugana Rugby Padova, uncapped)