Orange Blossoms in Women’s Italrugby: A Historic “Yes” for Michela Sillari and Giordana Duca

A civil union that, in addition to sealing a relationship, marks a historic moment in its own right for women’s Italian rugby. Michela Sillari and Giordana Duca, both pillars of the national team, said “I do” first at the town hall in Morgano, in the province of Treviso, and then at an outdoor ceremony that brought together several key figures from the Italian women’s rugby movement. This is the first civil union between two active Italian national team players.

Sillari plays as a back, Duca as a second row: both are 33 years old (Duca will turn 34 on September 18), and boast an enviable record that includes a combined 163 caps for the national team (98 for Michela, 65 for Giordana), as well as their shared participation in the 2021 and 2025 World Cups and league championships (Sillari also played in the 2017 championships). Their shared journey, even in their personal lives, has made them true icons of Italian women’s rugby.

The celebration felt like a big team reunion. Many members of the Italian national team and players from Valsugana Padova (for whom both currently play) filled the day with hugs and memories, turning the event into a collective embrace. Among the guests were also figures who have accompanied their careers, such as Giuliana Campanella, now team manager of the women’s national team.

Sillari and Duca chose to embrace this milestone naturally, surrounded by the people who share the field, away games, and the most intense seasons with them. A gesture that speaks to a united, mature movement that is increasingly aware of its own identity.