Elena Errichiello relishing chance to repeat U20 Six Nations success
The 22-year-old is returning for the second edition of the U20 tournament, which debuted in her native Italy, and after finishing with a 100% record after wins over Ireland, Scotland and Wales 12 months ago, Errichiello is relishing the challenge of repeating the feat.
Standing in Italy's way during the opening round of 2025 U20 Six Nations Women's Summer Series fixtures is France, another side who also claimed three wins last year, at the Centre for Sporting Excellence in Ystrad Mynach, Caerphilly, South Wales.
And No. 8 Errichiello is expecting her side's opponents to be a tough test.
'We are so excited [to play France] but also, we feel a bit of pressure on us because we want to do well and better than last year,' she said.
'We won three of our three games, and we hope to do the same this year.'
Errichiello plays domestically for Unione Rugby Capitolina in Rome, having started playing the sport aged 10, and explained there's a good feeling around the camp ahead of their opening clash.
'We are so excited, because we trained a lot to get here,' she continued.
'Last year we did good things, and I hope we can build on those.
'In the time we have been together, we have created a good team and we are ready to go.'
Following on from the 2024 U20 Six Nations Women's Summer Series, 14 players across the six countries went on to achieve senior honours during the 2025 Guinness Women's Six Nations, including Italy's Alia Antonietta Bitonci, with Errichiello, despite not winning a cap, also being called up to the senior side during the 2024 WXV.
And Errichiello highlighted the importance of the tournament for giving players the opportunity to stand out and to use it as a springboard to break into the senior team.
'It's a great opportunity, with me, I went to train with the major team thanks to the Summer Series, so it's a really good chance for us,' she added.
'It is important for us because it is a good opportunity, and it is a step to get to the major team. It's a better level and we want to get there.'
With women's rugby on an upward trajectory, the Summer Series is a big chance for stars of the future to gain vital international experience, graduate along the development pathway, while also inspiring a new generation of rugby fans.
Spread across three dates during July, Italy will also face England on 11 July before rounding off their campaign against Wales six days later.
Julie Paterson, Chief of Rugby at Six Nations Rugby, added: 'The Women's Summer Series is an essential part of the strategy and commitment of Six Nations Rugby, and the six unions and federations, to proactively support the creation and growth of opportunities in the women's game.'
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