April Rugby Diary
2 April France beat Ireland 40-9; Wales beat Scotland 24-19 (6N)
2 April USA’s Women’s Premier League (WPL) restarts after a 2-year break. Ten clubs are competing
2 April France U20s beat England U20s 32-27 at Henley to win series 2-0
3 April Italy lose 0-74 to England in Parma (6N)
4 April Australia is the preferred candidate for hosting the 2029 World Cup
4 April Wayne Smith, former assistant All Blacks coach, appointed Technical Coach to the Black Ferns
6 April Doriane Constanty and Chloë Pelle, both stars of France 7s, have started their training as referees
9 April England beat Wales 6N (Round 3). Abby Dow suffers a broken leg
9 April Start of inaugural U18 Six Nations Festival at DAM Health Stadium, Edinburgh
10 April Scotland lose to France; Ireland beat Italy 6N (Round 3)
11 April Greg McWilliams hints at a first summer tour for Ireland
11 April Black Ferns’ review published + media briefing
13 April U18 Six Nations Festival continues: Wales and France finish undefeated
13 April FIR announces 25 part-time contracts for Italian players, 17 ‘central’, 8 ‘scholarships’
13 April 33 French players listed for Rounds 4-5 of the 6N
14 April Claudia MacDonald may not play again after suffering a neck injury; her future at a crossroads
14 April NSW Waratahs qualify to play Fijiana Drua in the Super W final on 23 April; they beat Queensland Reds 36-0
15 April Japanese Sakura squad announced for tour of Australia; 2 tests v Fiji and Australia in May
15 April Clara Munarini (FIR) becomes the first woman to be appointed to referee the Italian men’s cup final
16 April Glenn Moore resigns as Black Ferns head coach
16 April Allianz Cup semi-finals: Harlequins beat Worcester Warriors 18-17. (Warriors scored a try in the 79th minute to take the lead; Beth Blacklock kicked a winning penalty to regain it. Exeter beat Bristol 66-0
18 April Japan squad departs for Australaia
20 April Abby Dow welcomed by the England squad again, on crutches
21 April New Black Ferns management team announced. Wayne Smith in charge
22 April Wales 5 France 33 6N
23-24 April Rugby Americas North (RAN) 7s qualifiers
23 April Final of SuperW at the AAMI Park Melbourne. Fijiana Drua beat Waratahs 32-26. Great rejoicing
23 April Allianz Cup Final – Exeter beat Quins, Sandy Park
23 April Italy beat Scotland 6N
24 April England 69 v Ireland 0 (6N)
24 April Emily Scarratt’s 100th cap; Leanne Infante’s 50th
25 April The WPL (USA) has reached Round 3; Life West and Colorado are undefeated
25 April Ali Donnelly announces the coming publication of her new book Scrum Queens, the Story of Women’s Rugby; publication date 25 July
26 April URC giving serious thought to introducing a women’s competition to involve all 5 nations, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, South Africa and Wales
26 April Pacific-4 Series schedule announced; games to be played between 6-18 June in New Zealand
26 April Nathan Bombrys named Chief Executive Officer of Rugby Canada 27 April Allan Bunting appointed as Manager of Culture and Leadership for Black Ferns, a completely new role
29-30 April Africa Women’s 7s in Tunisia; Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe competing
29 April Anna Caplice announces her retirement
30 April Super Saturday, final round of 2022 Six Nations
Wales 8 Italy 10; France 12 England 24; Ireland 15 Scotland 14
England win a Grand Slam
30 April Start of Langford 7s
30 April Japan beat Fiji 28-14 at the start of the Tri-Series in Queensland
