Michela Merlo has developed her coaching skills under the watchful eye of another former Italy international during her time on the Gallagher High Performance Academy (GHPA).
Diego Sacca, who won one cap on the left wing against Ireland in Limerick in 2003, has forged a successful second career in rugby as coach, and has acted as Michela’s mentor during her time on the GHPA WXV programmes.
“Diego helped me with activities, in managing staff work, delegating and sharing, participating in decision-making processes, and asking for my feedback and reflections,” Michela told World Rugby.
“His experience was very useful in understanding the processes and work by learning to observe oneself.”
Michela was a late starter in rugby. She was 26 before she played her first match, but quickly discovered that she had a natural aptitude for the sport.
She made rapid progress at club rugby before finding herself in the front-row of Italy’s national women’s team.
Since retiring from playing, Michela has moved into coaching, and is now Scrum Coach for the Rugby Mantova men’s team, and manager of the club’s schools and mini-rugby programme.
Michela’s coaching experience has expanded through her involvement with the GHPA programme since 2023, and has included working with Italy national women’s teams, from Under-18s to seniors.
“For me, this experience was in addition to the work I started last year, which allowed me to delve deeper into the issues I had already addressed. Even in a particular period I found myself in – motherhood –I persevered without difficulty in my goal of growth,” she said.
Michela was inspired to start coaching by Andrea Di Giandomenico, her former Italy Head Coach and role model.
“Initially, I thought that, given my advanced age, coaching could be a good way to stay in the world of rugby and sport,” she said.
“Then slowly with the children and teenagers, I started to have real satisfaction seeing that I was able to communicate with them and convey what I wanted.
“Finally, I was lucky enough to meet a coach who truly inspired me and changed my life. I understood the importance a coach’s role can have – both from a technical and social point of view.
“I look forward to taking everything I’ve learnt from the GHPA WXV programmes into GHPA RWC 2025.”
