23 Nations noted
1 February New staff for Ireland: Declan Danaher (Defence coach), Ed Slattery (Head of Athletic Performance), Greg Hollins (Athletic Performance Coach)
1 February Over 10,000 tickets already bought for England-Italy at Ashton Gate on 30 March
2 February Nicole Heavirland (USA 7s) out for 4-6 weeks after leg injury at Perth 7s
3 February Rugby Europe XVs Championship: Netherlands 38 Sweden 12
5 February Emily Chancellor, Georgina Friedrichs, Eva Karpani, Ash Marsters and Maya Stewart nominated for the Wallaroos Player of the Year; decision on 7 Feb
7 February Women’s Sport Trust delivers detailed report on visibility of women’s sport in 2023
7 February The above makes plain the vital need for free-to-air TV coverage
7 February Eva Karpani (Australia) is declared Buildcorp Wallaroos Player of the Year 2023; and Faitala Moleka becomes first Junior Women’s Player of the Year
6 February Chiefs Manawa announce a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Mie Women’s Rugby Club Pearls (Japan)
6 February Sara Cox receives her MBE from Princess Anne at Windsor Castle
6 February Announcement: all four PWR matches to be shown live on 2-3 March
6 February Ellie Kildunne is PWR Player of the Week for Round 10; 4 tries
7 February Germany, under the cover name Phönix (back from the dead?), to play Belgium on 2 March
8 February Lisa Neumann (Wales) transfers from Gloucester-Hartpury to Quins
9 February Carys Dallinger is Rugby Australia Rookie of the Year
9 February Wales U18s head head coach Siwan Lillicrap confirms an extended training squad
11 February Return half of Italy-Spain challenge matches; Sitges secure Spain’s only win
13 February Lyndsay O’Donnell (Scotland) announces her retirement
13 February Maddi Levi (Australia 7s) suspended for 4 matches
13 February South Africa to tour Europe (Scotland, Wales, Spain, England) and play USA in London before the Africa Cup in May
14 February Portugal announce squad of 38 to take part in Rugby Europe Championship
15 February England and Wales U18 training squads named
15 February 9 NEQPs are in PWR Team of the Week, Round 11
15 February Rugby Australia adds $3 million of funding to Women’s Rugby for 2024
15-17 February England U18 squad meet at Wellington College for training sessions
16 February France announce their squad for the Vancouver 7s
18 and 25 February German 15s squad train up for test v Belgium (see 7 Feb above)
19 February Pacific-4 fixtures confirmed
19 February Ireland announce 6N training squad
19 February Scotland announce 6N extended training squad
19 February Super W squads announced in Australia, Fijiana Drua hold the title
19 February Mhairi Grieve (Scotland and Sale) receives a 3-match ban for a high tackle
20 February Canada 7s and France 7s train together pre-Vancouver
20 February GB 7s squad named; Celia Quansah and Kayleigh Powell return
21 February Liz Perkins (@lizperkinsmedia) makes further claims of sexual impropriety against the Welsh Rugby Union; its new CEO Abi Tierney apologises formally
21 February Allianz Cup semi-finals confirmed: 130424 Sarries v Chiefs; 140424 Bears v Glos-Pury
21 February Jo Yapp states her aims for Wallaroos
22 February Penina Pasifika, comprising players from Samoa and Tonga, meet on the Gold Coast Queensland to play in the Super W preseason competition
22 February Emily Scarratt will play her first game of rugby for 13 months, complete with new neck; Amy Cokayne debuts at last for Leicester Tigers
22 February Eloise Hayward (ex-Saracens, Loughborough & Exeter) signs for Leicester Tigers
23 February Nine NEQPs make the PWR Round 11 Team of the Week
23-25 February Vancouver 7s
23-25 February Trinidad & Tobago play two matches v USA South; 1-1
24 February ASM Romagnat claim Elite 1 record 6,025 spectators at home match v Stade Bordelais; a double-header
24 February Wolfhounds crowned Celtic Challenge champions
24 February Rugby Europe XVs Championship: Portugal 7 Netherlands 31
25 February New Zealand beat France 35-19 to win Vancouver 7s
26 February Wasps issue statement on future plans
26 February Scotland squad returns to camp; Ireland squad returns to camp
27 February Bryony Cleall leave Quins; destination as yet unknown
27 February Sara Moreira (ex-Worcester), Izzy McGuire-Evans (Glasgow Warriors and Worcester) and Frankie Harvey all join Sale Sharks
28 February PWR – only 8 NEQPs in Round 12’s Team of the Week
28 February Venues announced for 2024 WXV: Canada, South Africa and Dubai
29 February England U18 squad announced
