HARLEQUEENS Italy

The Origins
The HarleQueens were born in 2022, on the occasion of the IMART World Cup in Cork, from a simple yet revolutionary idea: to unite the strength of women from the Latin community in order to finally participate in an international mixed ability rugby competition.

The previous year, the mixed women’s team had struggled to find enough players. So, in 2022, players from Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, and Italy joined forces. This led to the creation of the “HarleQueens Latina,” an international team that trained remotely, sharing game plans and techniques through chats and videos—overcoming both geographical and language barriers.

The First Meeting and Success
The HarleQueens met in person for the very first time just half a day before their official match. Despite differences in language and background, thanks to self-organization and a strong team spirit, they managed to play together with remarkable harmony. The result? An incredible second place overall—a testament to the group’s strength and the quality of the athletes involved.

The Cork experience inspired the creation of three new international teams in Ecuador, Argentina, and Italy.

HarleQueens Italia
From this experience, HarleQueens Italia was born—a team composed of experienced players from various regions of Italy. The project brought together about 28 athletes who, under the “HarleQueens Italia” banner, train together, sharing game strategies and common techniques. These joint training sessions allow the players to get to know each other better, strengthening both their sense of belonging and the quality of their teamwork.

Today, the HarleQueens stand as a shining example of inclusion, collaboration, and passion for rugby—uniting athletes of different cultures, backgrounds, and abilities into one great team.