women
international women
Plinio Sciamanna relied heavily on experience for his first game as Italy coach.
The 39-year-old will lead Blue in theirs WXV Global Series opener vs Japan on Saturday at Omero Tognon Stadium.
Vittoria Minucci is the captain of the team from the back, while the names are Silvia Turani, Sofia Stefen, Francesca Sgorbini and Giordana Duca.
Emma Stevanin will lead the half team while Gloucester Hartpury’s new whore Vittoria Vecchini joins the front row alongside Turani and Vittoria Zanette.
After the show Japan, Italy will host the Springbok Women and then travel to USA for two trial games against the Lady Eagles.
Coincidentally, it is also Toshizumi Kitagawa’s first game as Japan’s head coach. Earlier this year the 45-year-old led Sakura Fifteen to Asian Women’s Rugby Championship success as temporary, but was recently confirmed as Lesley McKenzie’s successor.
His squad includes the talents of Moe Tsukui at fly-half, while Jennifer Nduka’s stepped-up role in the back row will continue this weekend after a stellar performance at the 2026 Rugby Asia Championship.
Sakura Fifteen will play Ireland next week, before taking on Scott Bemand’s team in a test outside the WXV Global Series window in early October. Upon returning home, Kitagawa’s team will play back-to-back games against Wales.
On Saturday, the two nations will play each other for only the eighth time. Italy have won six of their previous meetings to date, while Japan’s only win came in a 25-24 victory in 2023.
Italy: Vittoria Minuzzi (cap), Aura Muzzo, Alyssa D’Incà, Sara Mannini, Francesca Granzotto, Emma Stevanin, Sofia Stefan; Silvia Turani, Vittoria Vecchini, Vittoria Zanette; Alessandra Frangipani, Giordana Duca, Margherita Tonellotto, Alissa Ranuccini, Francesca Sgorbini
Replacements: Chiara Cheli, Laura Foscato, Alessia Pilani, Giulia Cavina, Beatrice Veronese, Alia Bitonci, Beatrice Rigoni, Natascia Aggio
Japan: Maiko Nishi; Sora Nishimura, Haruka Hirotsu, Mana Furuta, Komachi Imakugi; Sawa Harada, Moe Tsukui; Hinata Komaki, Asuka Kuge, Wako Kitano; Masami Kawamura, Yuna Sato, Nami Asari, Sakurako Korai, Jennifer Nduka
Replacements: Moe Nagaoka, Nami Yoshida, Juka Fuji, Otoka Yoshimura, Mele Yua Havili Kagawa, Anan Seo, Kanna Hayashi, Uta Kataoka
