When Veronica Schiavon and Silvia Gaudino took part in their first Women’s Rugby World Cup way back in 2002, they were international rookies with the world at their feet.

Now, as they approach their second tournament – and Italy’s first in 15 years, they are seasoned test campaigners with 145 caps between them, an incredible number considering how few tests Italy have played during that time.

As the scorer of 382 test points, fly-half Schiavon's name is written large in her country’s record books, while flanker and captain Gaudino has been a consistent pillar in the back-row apart from last year when she took time out of the game she loves to bring up her newborn son, Leonardo.

Understandably, both have happy memories of playing on the game’s biggest stage and are looking forward to competing at Ireland 2017 next month.

“I remember spending a wonderful month with a lot of friends,” recalled Schiavon, the youngest of the two having only just turned 35 (Gaudino is 36 in December). “I was supposed to be the second stand-off but I ended up starting all the games on the wing. It was like a dream, being able to be on the pitch with players from all over the world.”

Gaudino (main picture) remembers WRWC 2002 being an exciting new chapter in her fledgling career. “The 2002 World Cup was one of my first experiences on the international stage, I’d only played the European Championship the previous season. The World Cup is so much more, it was a great experience and one I greeted with such enthusiasm, like a child experiencing something new for the first time.

"Everything was so strange, I lived two weeks of unforgettable emotions, trying to learn as much as I could from the most experienced girls.”

GROWING THE GAME

Over the course of their international careers – they both made their debuts in 2001 – women’s rugby has exploded in popularity. A couple of weeks out from the tournament, for example, all the pool matches are sold out for WRWC 2017.

“Women's rugby has developed massively in the last 15 years,” Gaudino acknowledged. “The game is faster, more skilful and physical and there are more players. Grassroots women’s rugby in Italy is strong and it is now commonly accepted for a girl to play rugby, which wasn’t the case when I was younger.”

While Gaudino did not take up the game until she was 17 after initially trying her hand at volleyball and ice skating, Schiavon’s involvement with rugby spans three decades.

Playing rugby is in Schiavon’s blood. First taking up the sport aged six, she inherited her passion from her mother Mansueta, who played for Italy (alongside her sister Mafalda), and from her father Mario, who was both a rugby player and a coach. Veronica’s sister, Valentina, is also a rugby fanatic and has 35 caps with the Azzurre.

The six-time Italian Championship winner is a graduate in Japanese and gets to practice her second language on a regular basis as a club player with Yokohama TKM. Gaudino, who has followed in the footsteps of her rugby-playing father and brother, is based at home with Monza Rugby, who she led to the women’s Series A title in 2014.

Italy head coach Andrea Di Giandomenico is in no doubt as to either player’s importance to the team.

"“They’ve been at the very forefront of the team over a long period, and Silvia is the first player to skipper the team to World Cup qualification. Having them in the squad is crucial both for their skills, experience and their ability to lead the group,”"

Italy coach Andrea Di Giandomenico

“They’ve been at the very forefront of the team over a long period, and Silvia is the first player to skipper the team to World Cup qualification. Having them in the squad is crucial both for their skills, experience and their ability to lead the group,” he said.

GREAT RESULTS

Italy’s place at WRWC 2017 was secured thanks to their results across the 2015 and 2016 Women’s Six Nations. Even though they drew a blank in this season’s Championship, the Azzurre still turned in some good performances and remained competitive throughout.

“The team developed a lot over the last few seasons and we’ve achieved some great results. I’ve no doubt we deserve the place (at the World Cup) but we need to prove it every time,” said Gaudino.

With Pool B matches against defending champions England, Spain and USA, Schiavon believes that anything is possible.

“I think in our pool anything can happen. Of course, England are a team we know well because we play them every year in the Six Nations, but as for Spain and USA ... who knows! We haven't played either of them for years so we’ll just have to wait and see who has made the most improvement.”