The Azzurrine will face Scotland on July 4th, Ireland on the 9th, and finish against Wales on the 14th, in what is being hailed as a critical new step in the pathway for women's rugby.
The squad consists of 30 players, half of the which is made up of girls from the three clubs that have been the most prominent nationally in recent years, with the highest proportion coming from Colorno (seven), and a total of nine players who featured in last month's Italian championship finalists, Valsugana (six) and Villorba (three). The same number comes from Benetton Treviso, including captain Silvia Fent, while there are four players from Unione Rugby Capitolina, highlighting the ever-productive youth sector of the Roman club.
Rubina Emma Grassi of Toulon is the only player based outside of Italy.
Three players in Sofia Catellani, Elena Errichiello, and Nicole Mastrangelo have been capped at senior level, having debuted in last year's WXV against South Africa in Cape Town.
The squad doesn't include the injured Gaia Dosi or Matilde Romersa, Alice Visman and Martina Farina, who are on standby.
All matches will be played at the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi in Parma, which in recent years has become the home of the women's national rugby teams. The Women's Summer Series represents a new opportunity for high-level international competition, and an additional step in the growth of women's rugby, starting from U18 festivals to the natural progression to the senior national teams.
The team's preparation will begin in Reggio Emilia on July 2nd.
The Italian squad for the Women's Summer Series:
Francesca Andreoli (Rugby Colorno)
Alia Antonietta Bitonci (Valsugana Rugby Padova)
Martina Busana (Villorba Rugby)
Erika Campigotto (Benetton Rugby Treviso)
Anna Carnevali (Rugby Colorno)
Sofia Catellani (Rugby Colorno)
Elisa Cecati (Volvera Rugby)
Chiara Cheli (Rugby Colorno)
Angelica Cittadini (Unione Rugby Capitolina)
Greta Copat (Villorba Rugby)
Giada Corradini (Rugby Colorno)
Elettra Costantini (Valsugana Rugby Padova)
Alessia Della Sala (Rebels Rugby Vicenza)
Elena Errichiello (Unione Rugby Capitolina)
Silvia Fent (Benetton Rugby Treviso) - captain
Alice Fortuna (Valsugana Rugby Padova)
Rubina Emma Grassi (RC Toulon)
Mascia Jelic (Rugby Colorno)
Antonella Maione (Neapolis Campania Felix)
Sara Mannini (Rugby Colorno)
Nicole Mastrangelo (Unione Rugby Capitolina)
Lucie Jeanne Moioli (Rugby Rovato)
Sara Negroni (Unione Rugby Capitolina)
Aregash Pellizon (Benetton Rugby Treviso)
Mihaela Pirpiliu (Rugby Rovato)
Luna Agatha Sacchi (Cus Torino)
Desiree Spinelli (I Puma Bisenzio Rugby)
Margherita Tonellotto (Valsugana Rugby Padova)
Vittoria Zanette (Villorba Rugby)
Vittoria Zeni (Valsugana Rugby Padova)
