Busy, busy
1 October New world rankings published: NZ fall to third behind Canada; England 7 points ahead
1 October USA Rugby opens application window for its High School pathway
2 October Just under 4,000 people attended the first WXV1 day in Vancouver
2 October Saracens to offer in-depth coverage of all their PWR matches
3 October Harlequins nominate no fewer than four captains: Jade Konkel, club captain, Lucy Packer, vice-captain, and two co-captains, Sarah Bonar and Lagi Tuima
3 October Nat Wright and Ash Fernandez (both Australia) out of WXV2 with injuries
4 October WXV: Italy 8 Wales 5; Madagascar 7 Hong Kong China 38
4 October Grace Steinmetz (New Zealand) forced to retire at 26 due to a brain injury
5 October WXV: USA 14 France 22; Canada 21 Ireland 8; Wales 5 Italy 8; Japan 13 Scotland 19; South Africa 26 Australia 33; Fiji 17 Samoa 45; Netherlands 0 Spain 20; Madagascar 7 Hong Kong China 38
5 October Latvia 50 Norway 0 (Ogre, Latvia)
5 October Farah Palmer Cup final: Waikato 27 Canterbury 25 (Hamilton)
6 October WXV: New Zealand 31 England 49 (Langley, Vancouver)
6 October England: Jess Breach has scored 46 tries in 42 tests; Abby Dow 40 in 48
8 October Belinda Moore, CE of the English PWR will resign later this month
9 October WXV1 referee appointments: Maggie Cogger-Orr for USA v Ireland; Sara Cox New Zealand v France; Aimee Barrett-Theron Canada v England
9 October Bitter controversy likely if new 20-minute red card regulation is introduced (see 15th & 18th below)
10 October Rugby Canada seeks a Director, Events
10 October After a lengthy investigation Trailfinders Women have reinstated Amy Wilson Hardy in the club
11 October WXV: USA 14 Ireland 26; Wales 19 Japan; 10 Samoa 46 Madagscar 15
11 October Samoa qualify for their first RWC since 2014; Wales qualify too
12 October WXV: France 14 New Zealand 39; Canada 12 England 21; SA 19 Italy 23; Australia 31 Scotland 22
12 October All 16 places in 2025 RWC now confirmed
14 October England’s Red Roses rise to the highest ever ranking, 97.56
14 October The 4 bands of 4 teams confirmed for 2025 RWC
15 October The French Federation will vote against any proposed easing of red card regulations
15 October The PWR final is fixed for StoneX Stadium on 16 March 2025
15 October Opta publishes its team of 2024 WXV
15 October The Official History of 150 years of Irish rugby, Together Standing Tall, launched in Dublin; author John Scally; published by Gill Books
17 October Draw for 2025 World Cup declared, but not the schedule
17 October Sene Naoupu (ex-Ireland) is appointed CEO of North Otago RFU
18 October The IRFU joins the FFR in rejecting the implementation of the 20-minute red card being trialled
18 October Emma Orr (Scotland) is banned for two matches for a dangerous tackle v Australia
19 October Leia Brebner-Holden (Scotland) leaves Gloucester-Hartpury for Loughborough Lightning
19 October After three rounds Wicklow stand top of the Energia AIL league
19 October After three rounds Saracens stand top of the PWR
19 October Germany beat Finland 44-10 at Vantaa, north of Helsinki
19 October Florian Grill is re-elected President of France Rugby
22 October Portia Woodman-Wickliffe returns from Japan to play the 2025 Super Rugby Aupiki season with the Blues
22 October Match schedule published for 2025 RWC; four pools of four
22 October USA Rugby announces 2024 PR7s All-Star Tournament for men and women on 17 November at Portland, Oregon
24 October WRU stages Girls in Rugby Week (Wythnos Merched yn Rygbi) all over the country
24 October The American WER league announces 6 head coaches to take charge; they include 4 women
25 October New book, “Honey: My Story of Love, Loss and Victory”, a collaboration between Honey Hireme-Smiler and Suzanne McFadden
25 October Lynne Cantwell is appointed Head of Women’s Strategy for Irish Rugby, leaving a similar post with SARU; she remains an advisor for them
25 October Fiji seeks a new head coach
25 October Ilona Maher (USA 7s) is alleged to be in talks with Bristol and Gloucester-Hartpury in order to join PWR
25 October The Tournoi National des Quartiers et des Campagnes at Marcoussis sees 27 teams aged 8-11 learning and competing
27 October Saracens beat Gloucester-Hartpury 49-38 to go top of PWR table
27 October Leanne Infante (England, England 7s and Saracens) retires after 100 games for the club and 50+ for England
27 October GB 7s win the Elche 7s as expected
27 October Serie A restarts in Italy
27 October Argentina beat Brazil 19-10 to retain the South America 7s title
28 October Stade Toulousain and Stade Bordelais are equal top of Elite 1 after 3 rounds
29 October Gloucester-Hartpury’s stadium renamed 4ED Hartpury Stadium in honour of Ed Slater, Gloucester player and MND sufferer
29 October RFU announces its Women’s Leadership Development programme
31 October Sky Super Rugby Aupiki teams announce their squads
31 October Fi Tomas (Telegraph) makes devastating claims against the WRU alleging: “[It] threatened to withdraw its women’s team from next year’s @rugbyworldcup if players did not sign new contracts” – and more
31 October Research commissioned by the RFU claims rugby adds £2.03bn to the nation (i.e. England)
