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Latest News
Andy Vilk, head coach of Italy men's sevens
4 min read

RWC Sevens 2022 qualifying

Italy men’s sevens team seeks return to the big stage

The European men's qualification tournament for Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 is on the horizon with the prize of four tickets to Cape Town, South Africa at stake in July.

RWC Sevens 2022 qualifying

Thu 19 May, 2022
4 min read
HSBC Canada Women's Sevens 2022
4 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Black Ferns Sevens renew riveting rivalry with Australia on HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Australia wrapped up the 2022 Series title in Langford, but the Black Ferns Sevens left Canada with plenty to celebrate as they begin a busy period.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Tue 3 May, 2022
4 min read
Madagascar Women's Sevens
3 min read

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022: Madagascar latest team to book ticket to Cape Town

Following another intense weekend of qualifying action we now know the identity of 12 women's and 20 men's teams who will compete at RWC Sevens 2022.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Mon 2 May, 2022
3 min read
HSBC Spain Sevens Seville 2022 - Women's
4 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe keen to drive Ireland onto Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

We spoke to the prolific Ireland star about backing up the team’s success in Seville and plotting their path to Cape Town in September.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Tue 26 April, 2022
4 min read
Rugby World Cup Sevens San Francisco 2018 - Day Two
5 min read

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Everything you need to know about Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Your guide to RWC Sevens 2022, which will take place in Cape Town between 9-11 September this year.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Fri 8 April, 2022
5 min read
2018 Highlights
Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018
08:29 mins

Highlights: New Zealand win big in San Francisco

New Zealand retained their Rugby World Cup Sevens title in San Francisco
Mon 23 July, 2018
08:29 mins
Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018
07:03 mins

Highlights: New Zealand women's win Rugby World Cup Sevens

Check out all the top action as New Zealand win The Rugby World Cup Sevens in San Francisco
Sun 22 July, 2018
07:03 mins
Rugby World Cup Sevens San Francisco 2018 - Day Two
06:30 mins

HIGHLIGHTS: Men's semi-finals confirmed after thrilling day two

Men's semi-finals confirmed after thrilling day two of action at Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018 #RWC7s
Sun 22 July, 2018
06:30 mins
Rugby World Cup Sevens San Francisco 2018 - Day One
06:51 mins

Highlights: Men's quarter-finals decided

Men's quarter-finals of Rugby World Cup Sevens decided after incredible first day at AT&T Park
Sat 21 July, 2018
06:51 mins
Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018
06:26 mins

Highlights: Women's semi-finals confirmed at Rugby World Cup Sevens

Championship semi-finals confirmed after thrilling day one of action
Sat 21 July, 2018
06:26 mins
Women in Rugby
Wednesday 03 November, 2021
3 min read

Francesca Gallina hoping to inspire new generation of female leaders through work with Rugby Europe

We caught up with the former Italy second-row after she became the Chairperson of Rugby Europe’s Women’s Sub-Committee.
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Francesca Gallina hopes to use her new position as Chairperson of the Rugby Europe Women’s Sub-Committee to help ensure that the knowledge and expertise of former female players is retained within the game.

Gallina, who represented Italy at Rugby World Cup 2002 and sits on the Federazione Italiana Rugby (FIR) board, was elected to the Women’s Sub-Committee on a four-year term in September.

It is not a role that she thought would be open to her when she was younger, and Gallina is keen to show current players that there are now numerous ways in which they can stay involved with the game even after they have hung up their boots.

The Italian chaired her first sub-committee meeting two weeks ago and has identified three pillars on which to build her tenure, the most important being to develop female leaders.

“We are focusing on governance and leadership since we think that if you have women as leaders and if women become aware of what they can do for rugby once they stop playing, you make a step forward in development,” Gallina told World Rugby.

“It's a cultural revolution, what we need to work on. On one hand, [we need] to make women feel comfortable with all those kinds of actions, which are not on the field, which are not only working with kids.

💪 @Federugby flexed their muscles on their way to securing Rugby World Cup 2021 qualification #RWC2021 pic.twitter.com/fQrVyF5x3h

— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) September 26, 2021

“[We need to convince women that] you can train kids. You can also train at a high level. You can also be a referee at a high level. You can also be a part of the government of the union.

“Women need to know that they can do it, and they need maybe an example, but they also need practical help.”

Giving back to the sport

Gallina admits she did not know that pathways to leadership roles off the pitch existed for women when she was a player.

However, her passion for the game and commitment to improving those structures was clear earlier this year when she made around 200 phone calls to clubs in Italy to canvass support for the FIR board elections.

It proved a successful ploy as Gallina was voted in as a player representative and she faces a busy few years juggling her commitments on the FIR board and Rugby Europe Women’s Sub-Committee with life as a university professor and mother in Pisa.

“I received a call last year from Marzio Innocenti, the FIR President, and she asked me, ‘Why don’t you try to be a candidate for the elections?’” Gallina said.

“I said: ‘Well, why not?’ It's a good opportunity also to stay in rugby, not on the pitch, out of the pitch and to try to do something for the sport, which gave me so much.

“I try to give something back since I received a lot from this sport.”

Making women’s rugby more visible

Gallina was delighted to watch Italy win the Rugby World Cup 2021 Europe Qualifier in Parma in September to secure their place in Pool B in New Zealand.

The former international second-row, who featured against England at RWC 2002, believes qualification for next year’s tournament can have a big impact on the women’s game in her homeland.

“It could be a great opportunity to make women's rugby more visible. For the qualifier, all three Italy matches were broadcast on public television for free in the afternoon,” she said.

“They had a good share [of viewing figures] … so, we were very, very happy and also the public television was very happy with that.

“And so, this is a good sign. It means that people have started watching also female rugby if you just broadcast it, if we make it clear and easy to find.

“So, I think that the next World Cup will be another opportunity to give the chance to anyone, any girl, any kid to watch. ‘Oh, what are they doing? I can do it as they do’.

“This is a great opportunity, absolutely.”

Gallina says that today’s women’s game is a “different world” to the one in which she first started playing more than two decades ago.

But she understands both Rugby Europe and FIR face a challenge to ensure that female participation numbers continue to grow amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

“In Italy, the pandemic had a bigger impact on women's rugby than on men's rugby,” Gallina said.

“I don't know if this is only an Italian situation. I'm afraid it is a more general situation.

“And so, on this basis, we need to work [and be] aware that we’ve lost a lot of players, a lot of opportunities as well.

“So, we need to work harder on that to fill the gap.”

READ MORE: Katie Sadleir “privileged to have been part of changing people’s lives” at World Rugby >>

Trending News Show all
HSBC France Sevens 2022 Men's
6 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series - Toulouse

Men’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series favourites suffer shock defeats on opening day in Toulouse as women’s champions Australia continue fine form

South Africa, Australia and Argentina were all beaten on the opening day of the HSBC France Sevens men’s event, while New Zealand and Australia caught the eye with some big wins in the women’s competition

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series - Toulouse

Fri 20 May, 2022
6 min read
Rikki Swannell becomes first females to commentate on men's series
5 min read

Feature

Behind the microphone: Groundbreaker Rikki Swannell

World Rugby talks to the New Zealander about becoming the first female lead commentator on the men’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series and her life in sports broadcasting.

Feature

Fri 20 May, 2022
5 min read
Andy Vilk, head coach of Italy men's sevens
4 min read

RWC Sevens 2022 qualifying

Italy men’s sevens team seeks return to the big stage

The European men's qualification tournament for Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 is on the horizon with the prize of four tickets to Cape Town, South Africa at stake in July.

RWC Sevens 2022 qualifying

Thu 19 May, 2022
4 min read
Serevi Coaching Roadshow - HSBC Event
3 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Fiji are in Toulouse to win: “There is still room for improvement,” says Gollings

Gold and silver medals in their last two HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series outings have Fiji feeling good ahead of French tournament

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Thu 19 May, 2022
3 min read
HSBC France Sevens 2022
4 min read

Rugby Sevens

Captains ready for lift off at HSBC France Sevens

Toulouse welcomes a full line-up of 16 men’s and 12 women’s teams for the first time in the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series on 20-22 May

Rugby Sevens

Wed 18 May, 2022
4 min read
2018 Commonwealth Games women's final
3 min read

Commonwealth Games

All the build-up to rugby sevens at the Commonwealth Games 2022

Now that the line-ups are complete in both the men’s and women’s tournaments, we take a look at who has won gold in the past and the sides competing to add their names to the roll call of honour in July.

Commonwealth Games

Wed 11 May, 2022
3 min read
Madagascar qualify for rugby world cup sevens
4 min read

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Discipline and hard work at the heart of Madagascar's success on the road to Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

The Madagascar women's sevens team has achieved their historic dream of qualifying for a Rugby World Cup Sevens tournament for the first time. At the heart of this achievement lies a lot of hard work, determination and discipline.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Wed 11 May, 2022
4 min read
HSBC Canada Women's Sevens 2022
4 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Seven women’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series players to watch in Toulouse

Following an exciting weekend in Langford we look at seven women’s stars who could light up Toulouse between 20-22 May.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Thu 5 May, 2022
4 min read
HSBC Canada Women's Sevens 2022
4 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Black Ferns Sevens renew riveting rivalry with Australia on HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Australia wrapped up the 2022 Series title in Langford, but the Black Ferns Sevens left Canada with plenty to celebrate as they begin a busy period.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Tue 3 May, 2022
4 min read
Madagascar Women's Sevens
3 min read

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022: Madagascar latest team to book ticket to Cape Town

Following another intense weekend of qualifying action we now know the identity of 12 women's and 20 men's teams who will compete at RWC Sevens 2022.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Mon 2 May, 2022
3 min read
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