Balancing rugby with the day-to-day demands of her career has never been easiest of tasks for Italy’s Elisa Giordano – especially over the challenging last 12 months.
But on the cusp of her return to action alongside her Azzurre teammates in the 2021 Women’s Six Nations, the 30-year-old is relishing the chance to play the sport she loves once again.
A superhero both on and off the pitch, the back-rower – nicknamed Polipo (Octopus) because she catches everything – works as an occupational therapist when she’s not in the engine room disrupting breakdowns and delivering big tackles.
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Such is her standing in Italian rugby since making her debut a decade ago, Giordano was even named as captain in place of the injured Manuela Furlan for last year’s Championship.
Yet despite being grateful for the opportunity, Giordano was more than happy to relinquish the role back to Furlan as she turned her focus to juggling her regular responsibilities.
“I’m an occupational therapist. It’s not easy to do that and rugby,” said Giordano, one of six Women’s Six Nations players starring the current ‘Superheroes’ campaign. “In truth, working all day, whatever job, not just mine, is tough to fit in with the sporting demands.
“But as long as I can keep doing it, I’ll keep going. I have to prioritise my future life though, as much as I love rugby. In France and the other countries, it’s a lot more common a job than in Italy.
“It was very demanding captaining the side in terms of the responsibilities. On the pitch I didn’t change my role in terms of what I used to do, but I put pressure on myself.
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“I think what happens when someone is a captain, it’s not that they have to be the leader, because leadership is quite a natural thing, I was already leading the lineout for example.
“But when you get a task like that, it creates an added expectation, put on yourself perhaps. It was a great experience but I’m glad that Manuela has come back.”
Italy sat out the opening weekend of this year’s new-look Women’s Six Nations, watching on as Pool A rivals England defeated Scotland 52-10 in the Championship curtain-raiser.
Giordano and her teammates will now look to upset the odds against the defending champions in Parma in what will be their first matchday together since November last year.
That game ended in a 54-0 victory for England as they sealed the Grand Slam but whatever the result on Saturday, Giordano is just grateful to be able to play rugby again.
“It’s been quite good,” she said of preparations. “As we’re not always together it takes a little time to get up to speed but when we get that confidence back, things start to click.
“We hope that it will be enough time to get on the same page. I saw the England game, as always they were very strong, very physical. The first thing I took away is that we will have to tackle low.
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“For the rest, in terms of the game, we have to do what we know how to do. We might not be at their level, physically at least, but we need to give everything we have to play a good game.
“I’m very happy to be able to have an outlet for all the effort that has been put in. Including those of the clubs, the teammates who have helped in training sessions to help prepare us.
“We are the only ones who can play at the moment, so we thank them. I’m just really happy to be able to play. It’s the first game in 2021. We played in November and this will be the first game for all of us.
“There’s just the girls in France who have played, but those of us in Italy, this will be our first game. In terms of game-time, it’s difficult because as much as you train, it’s not the same thing.
“In the head, we just have to do that little bit more to make up for the minutes we’re missing. It’s tough, especially against England, who are super physical, but it’s a starting point for 2021 and everything that is coming.”
Giordano has won 43 caps for her country and as one of the more experienced players in the Italy squad, she hopes she can help guide a new generation of players to future success.
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“So many people have changed since I’ve been in the side,” she said. “We have had a very strong generation of players, we have a lot of young players, I’m one of the older ones, which is right.
“We have a project which is building up to the World Cup and the coming years. The new girls have come in and integrated well. They are bringing a lot to the squad.
“We’re building a squad like the top teams with a bench, who when they are called on, are at the same level as those who start the game. So, I’m really happy with how the squad is shaping up.”
