women
international women
Sara Mannini has seen a lot of changes in the past few months. But fortunately for her and the others Italy team, one thing that hasn’t changed is maintaining a winning streak through defeat Japan in their opening WXV Global Series fixture.
That means Italy have won three of their last four matches, with a 55-21 win added to their wins over Scotland and Wales in the Guinness Women’s Six Nations 2026.
Mannini played the full 80 minutes at the Stadio Omero Tognon in north-east Italy, and it’s an exciting time for the 21-year-old.
Firstly, there is a new national coach after Plinio Sciamanna succeeded Fabio Roselli in August. Once his national team duties are over, Mannini will head to his new club and move to a new country when he joins Harlequins in JAECOO Premiership Women’s Rugby.
“We all know it’s the strongest league in the world and it will give me the opportunity to challenge myself against players I wouldn’t face in Italy,” said Mannini RugbyPass.
“I’m joining a team with a lot of young players, but with an experienced staff who want to keep us at the highest level. It’s going to be a big challenge, but I can’t wait to get started.”
At the forefront of their minds right now is Italy’s second match of the WXV Global Series vs South Africa at the same location and it’s a match that has meaning for Mannini and her teammates.
In women Rugby World Cup 2025 South Africa eliminated Italy. The Blue lost it France in the opening game, but a slow start allowed South Africa to take the initiative with two tries, and while they hit back in the second half, they could not find an answer to Sinazo Mcatshulwa’s try and were knocked out.
“The World Cup left a bad taste in my mouth,” Mannini said. “On Saturday we want to set the record straight, and I want to make up for missing the World Cup quarter-finals, so I can’t wait for Saturday.
“We want to make up for losing to them at the World Cup. It’s going to be a tricky match, but we’re ready to dig in and continue what we’ve been doing to be as prepared as possible.”
This time the omens are better than on the eve of Italy’s clash with South Africa at the York Community Stadium.
Italy’s win over Japan was very impressive with 10 tries, which meant winning starts for their new coach and new captain, full back Vittorio Ostuni Minuzzi.
They got their breakthrough early with the first of two tries from Aura Muzzo coming in two minutes, and Alessandra Frangipani then pulled over for a second before the 10 minute mark. Particularly pleasing was their ability to play a quick drop game that leaves even the best teams struggling to catch them when they do.
They also didn’t have to move the location. Both tests take place in Fontanafreda, which means the hassle and fatigue of uprooting, traveling and starting over is avoided.
“We worked really hard before the match against Japan and we rediscovered our belief in each other after a few months apart,” Mannini said. “That was one of our main goals, along with our style of play and team unity. So we’re very pleased with that, especially as we’ve started so well.
“We are a team that wants to play fast, be at the front and play continuously. We know there will be mistakes, but we have to understand why they happen. I didn’t expect this result, but to score two tries in the first 10 minutes meant we knew we had a chance to do something special.
“Wearing an Italy shirt is a special feeling and means you are determined in everything you do both individually and collectively. Coming back together for the first time since the Six Nations, playing at home with fans packing the stands and shouting for Italy gives you even more determination.”
When the match is over on Saturday, Italy will focus on two tough tests away from home USA Eagles at Texas and Tennessee on October 18th and 25th.
Pisa-born Mannini will finally run out in a Harlequins shirt in November, after being officially unveiled in July. She leaves Colorno after being named Serie A’s best player for the 2025/26 season.
Her arrival brings Quins’ Italian contingent to two, along with prop Silvia Turani who has helped facilitate Mannini’s move to south-west London. It also creates a delicious continental center paired with Spain’s Clàudia Peña Hidalgo.
“Silvia texted me and said the Harlequins head of coaching (Ross Chisholm) wanted to speak to me,” Mannini said. “From there we had a video call and I was a bit nervous because I didn’t know what it would be like to talk to a big English club. It was better than I thought and I said yes.
“The chance to play for Harlequins would help my development and that’s why I signed. I visited from August 10-12 to see where I was going and meet the staff and players. It helped me to see that I was going somewhere where everyone believed in me and where I could develop.”
