Wales
Wales have announced the names of three people to take over interim management of the national women’s team: Geraint Lewis and Ioan Cunningham, with Richard Whiffen as assistant attack coach. Lewis formed part of the previous triumvirate before Warren Abraham’s appointment. The WRU is looking for permanent replacement. Sophie Spence continues her role as World Rugby coaching intern.
They have urgent work to do as the autumn programme looks like this:
Sunday 7 November v Japan 5pm
Saturday 13 November v South Africa 12.30pm
Sunday 21 November v Canada 5pm
A wider squad has completed a 3-day training course. The players to take part in the three tests will be selected from them.
Nigel Walker, who took over as the WRU performance director on 29 September, gives a high priority to forwarding the women’s programme.
Scotland
Scotland’s win over Ireland has raised them to 9th place in world rankings, their highest ever.
They will play Japan on 14 November, but at Edinburgh Rugby’s DAM Health Stadium, not Scotstoun, Glasgow. This is because of a date-clash with the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference taking place in Glasgow.
It will be their first home fixture in front of spectators for two years.
Here’s a cross-section of matches taking place around the world this weekend:
Scotland
Tennent’s Women’s Premier League
Corstorphine Cougars v Cartha Queens Park
Stirling County v Heriots Blues
Watsonians v Hillhead Jordanhill
Hong Kong
Dettol Women’s Premiership
Natixis HKFC Ice vs. DAC Kowloon
Kroll USRC Tigers vs. Société Générale Valley
Gai Wu Falcons vs. SCAA First Pacific Causeway Bay Phoenix
New Zealand
Farah Palmer Cup – Final spot play offs
Northland Kauri v Hawke’s Bay Tui (Championship semi-final)
Waikato v Wellington Pride (Premiership semi-final)
Manawatū Cyclones v Canterbury (non-competition match)
with thanks to rugbyreferee.net
Exeter Chiefs
Chiefs women now have their own dedicated twitter account: @exechiefswomen
