Sillari on brink of 100th cap as Italy name 30-player squad for USA tour

Michela Sillari stands one appearance away from her 100th Italy cap after head coach Plinio Sciamanna named a 30-player squad on Tuesday for the WXV Global Series tour of the United States. Italy face the Women’s Eagles twice — first in Mansfield, Texas, then in Nashville, Tennessee the following week.

Sciamanna has leaned heavily on experience for the October fixtures. Sofia Stefan (108 caps), Beatrice Rigoni (88 caps) and Elisa Giordano (84 caps) are all included, giving the squad a formidable core of veterans alongside Sillari, who currently sits on 99 caps.

Three uncapped players have also been handed opportunities: Benetton Rugby Treviso pair Silvia Fent and Mascia Jelic, and Toulon’s Rubina Grassi. Their inclusion suggests Sciamanna is beginning to build depth ahead of future campaigns.

The tour comes with an injury cloud, however. Loosehead prop Silvia Turani has been ruled out with a knee problem, while Gaia Maris, Veronica Madia and Margherita Tonellotto have all remained in Italy to continue treatment. Their absences will test the squad’s forward depth, particularly in the front row.

Italy arrive in the United States on the back of mixed September form in the WXV Global Series. They opened with a commanding 55-21 win over Japan before losing 41-29 to South Africa, a result that will have sharpened the squad’s focus ahead of the two-Test series.

Captain Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi leads the side from Grenoble Amazones, with the full 30-player touring party drawn from clubs across Italy, France, England and beyond.