Lucia Gai facts for kids
Gai before the match against Spain for the RWC 2021 qualification
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| Date of birth | 3 May 1991 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Place of birth | Pesaro, Italy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 170 cm (5 ft 7 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 80 kg (176 lb; 12 st 8 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Lucia Gai, born on May 3, 1991, is a talented Italian rugby union player. She plays a special position called "Prop" for the Italian national team and for her club, Valsugana.
Contents
Lucia Gai's Rugby Journey
Lucia Gai started her rugby career in her hometown of Pesaro, Italy. She first played as a "centre," which is a position in the middle of the field.
Early Club Career
Lucia later moved to Mira to play for a club called Brenta Riviera. Here, she changed her playing position. She first became a "second row" player and then a "prop." A prop is a strong player in the front row of the scrum.
In her very first season with Brenta Riviera, Lucia helped her team win a national championship. This was a great start to her professional rugby life!
Joining the National Team
At just 18 years old, Lucia Gai made her first appearance for the Italian national team. This happened during the 2009 FIRA Women's Trophy. It was a big moment for such a young player.
Moving Between Clubs
After her time with Brenta Riviera, Lucia returned to play for Pesaro in 2010. She continued to be a regular player for the Italian national team, even taking part in the 2011 Women's Six Nations Championship.
In 2011, she went back to Brenta Riviera for a second time.
Success with Valsugana
In 2016, Lucia moved to Padua to join the Valsugana rugby club. She also studied motor sciences at the local university there. With Valsugana, she continued her winning streak, helping the team secure two more championships in 2016 and 2017.
Playing in France
In 2017, Lucia Gai decided to play rugby in France. She joined a club called Rennes. That same year, she represented Italy at the 2017 Women's Rugby World Cup in Ireland. The Italian team finished in ninth place overall.
A Rugby Milestone
Lucia Gai achieved a very special milestone during the 2024 Women's Six Nations Championship. In a match against Wales, she played her 100th game for the Italian national team. This made her only the second Italian woman to reach 100 "caps" (appearances) for her country. It shows how dedicated and important she has been to Italian rugby.
