The first stage of the WXV 2023 may not be a accurate pointer to how things will work out later.
First, the two matches between Australia and New Zealand have sensibly been assigned to the traditional trans-Tasman O’Reilly Cup as well (schedule below). That allows the two nations to continue the series in their own backyards.
Second, World Rugby has arranged warm-up matches for Canada and USA, staged in Madrid of all places. That is absolutely excellent for Spanish rugby; Las Leonas will at last have a chance of getting back into the Big League, thanks to the introduction of the WXV.
Third, Spain and South Africa have been added to the mix in an imaginative move to increase interest and to offer those two nations (both likely to figure in Tier 3) more exposure to international standards.
Fourth, apart from those distant excursions to Australia, Aotearoa and Spain, the programme will centre on one location, which was a principle laid down at the start of the WXV enterprise. Canada has been selected as the first host nation.
For each of the three tiers, there will be a lot of travel involved. The top three from this spring’s Six Nations will be competing against three of the quartet, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and USA.
Although so many nations are introducing contracts for their elite players, we are a long way short of calling the game professional. Many of the players from the eighteen nations involved (three tiers of six each) will still be amateur, or paid too little by their unions to be able to give up their career in favour of rugby. That target lies a distance into the future.
So the idea is to condense the fixtures as far as possible in time and place.
But four big games in Madrid only add to the flavour of the product. It all kicks off this month.
Pacific Four Series 2023 match schedule:
Round 1 – Madrid, Spain
25 March Spain v United States; Canada v South Africa (warm-up matches)
1 April Canada v USA (plus Spain v South Africa)
All at Estadio Nacional de la Universidad Complutense de Madrid
Round 2
Australia v New Zealand – June, Australia
Round 3
Canada v New Zealand – July, Canada USA v Australia – July, Canada
Round 4
Canada v USA – July, Canada
USA v New Zealand – July, Canada
Venues and dates to be confirmed
O’Reilly Cup:
29 June Australia v New Zealand, Brisbane, Australia
30 September Black Ferns v Wallaroos, tbc, New Zealand
