The month began with a blizzard of news, 2-4 March several feet deep.
1 March Three days after the Spain-Russia match in Madrid, Russia is banned from all rugby activity by World Rugby
1 March Jenny Kronish (USA) signs for Harlequins
2 March TikTok unveils new brand identity for the 6 Nations
2 March Sky Super Rugby Aupiki has start date delayed to 10 March after positive Covid tests
2 March Mexico replaces Russia in the Langford Sevens, starting 30 April. The 12 competing nations now are: Australia, Brazil, Canada, Ireland, England, Fiji, France,, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Spain, USA
2 March Ireland announces intake of 13 players to its first U18 National Talent Squad
3 March Anthony Eddy resigns as head coach of Ireland
3 March Greg McWilliams announces Ireland 6N squad
3 March The Buildcorp SuperW tournament in Australia to be broadcast live on free-to-air TV, a first
4 March First hints of an U18 level 6 Nations tournament to be held in April
4 March Review into Ireland’s failure to make the World Cup published
5 March Last round (16) of Allianz Premier 15s games before the 6N break 7 March 40 names listed in England’s 6N training squad
7 March Another setback for Super Aupiki: Hurricanes players isolate
8 March First ever 6N U18 event to start in festival form on 9 April in Edinburgh
10 March Delayed and reduced start of Super Aupiki. Chiefs beat Matatu 17-15
10 March Ireland’s first U18 squad announced, ‘WNTS’, Women’s National Talent Squad 10 March Russia replaced by Japan and Mexico at the Langford 7s (30 April)
11 March Lotte Clapp (captain of Saracens) becomes the third England cap to switch allegiance. She plays for USA (Falcons v Wales), tomorrow. Joining her is Georgie Perris-Redding. Both qualify by birth
12 March Result: Wales 23 USA Falcons XV 31. The Falcons limited to England-based players. Played at Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli
12 March Start of English National U18 Festival of Centres of Excellence at Burton RFC 14 March 4,000 volunteers sought for RWC in Auckland and Whangarei
14 March Australia 7s squad meets USA at the Los Angels Memorial Stadium and defeats them four times
15 March Kevin Rouet replaces Sandro Fiorini as Head Coach of Canada 15s 16 March TikTok 6 Nations launch in London
16 March Two more fixtures announced for England U20s, away and home to France: 26 March in Evreux and 2 April at Henley hawks
17 March Mariola Rus, head of Spanish women’s rugby, resigns, accusing the board of neglecting the women’s game and failing to fulfil promises
19 March Fijiana 7s team beats New Zealand 7s team five times out of six
19 March England U20s beat Scotland U20s 38-7 at Darlington Arena
20 March Fiji Drua win third SuperW match to qualify for play-offs
20 March Railway Union beat UL Bohemian 53-12 to win the Energy All-Ireland Cup
21 March Unprecedented TV/live stream coverage of the 6 Nations announced. All games to be accessible worldwide
21 March Nichola Fryday appointed Ireland captain
23 March Venue for Allianz Premier 15s final to be Sixways, Worcester
24 March Four home nations publish squads for Round One 6N
25 March Gerard Mullen to become head of Academy backs and attack at Quins. No replacement as Head Coach yet announced
26 March First round of 2022 6 Nations: Scotland 5 England 57 (Edinburgh); Ireland 19 Wales 27 (Dublin). New attendance records set.
26 March France U18s beat Italy U18s 49-33 in Piacenza
26 March France U20s beat England U20s 35-14 at Evreux
27 March France 39 Italy 6 (Grenoble)
31 March Black Ferns 7s return after 6 matches against Fijiana. They won the first 14-10, then lost the other five. Ferns’ leading stars stayed home for the Super Aupiki
31 March Fiji Drua become the first team ever to beat NSW Waratahs in the SuperW. Score 29-10 Strictly 1 April, but no-one would have believed the news on that date)
Lead photo England U20s
