Full house!
1 August. HIH Princess Akita, Patron of JRFU, to attend two Japan matches
1 August. Deborah Griffin elected first female President of the RFU
1 August. Australia 36 Wales 5 (Sydney)
2 August. France announce 32 players for 2025 RWC
3 August. South Africa 5 New Zealand XV 24 (series 1-1)
4 August. Marlie Packer (England) gets 1-match ban for red card
4 August. Canada and Italy announce RWC squads
5 August. Lucy Calladine (Loughborough Lightning) named Player of the Tournament (6 Nations Summer Series)
6 August. Georgia Ponsonby (NZ) to join Trailfinders, London
6 August. Canada given great send-off in Ottawa
6 August. PWR (England) fixtures announced
7 August. England and Ireland announce teams to play France and Canada at weekend
7 August. Maddy Grant will stay in Canada; not join Exeter Chiefs as planned
8 August. WRU delays plans for future of Welsh rugby again
8 August. BBC gives details of live coverage of RWC matches
9 August. Mikiela Nelson (Canada) signs on at Trailfinders
9 August. Both Menager sisters (France) may be playing their last games of rugby. Romane already out (concussion)
9 August. France 6 England 40 (Mont-de-Marsan)
10 August. Good news: Alex Callender (Wales) and Aoife Wafer & Edel McMahon (Ireland) in their national squads
11 August. Charlotte Caslick (Australia) may miss RWC (ankle) PS she did
11 August. Italy announce RWC squad
12 August. New structure for Celtic Challenge semis and final announced
12 August. Wales hold open training day in Cardiff
12 August. BBC announce team of 16 commentators and analysts (3 men)
13 August. The Stoop will host next PWR final
13 August. A cancer diagnosis causes Abi Tierney to step away as Wales CE
13 August. Black Ferns launch new series ‘Triple threat’, featuring 3 young players
13 August. USA Eagles try to get to grips with English breakfast
14 August. Black Ferns launch own YouTube channel
15 August. Pam Buisa (Canada) misses RWC through injury; replaced by Julia Omokhuale
15 August. 40k tickets sold for opening match of RWC (capacity 48,707)
15 August. Ireland fly to England; they don’t swim
15 August. Brazil and Samoa on their way
15 August. Heathrow turns green to welcome Ireland
15 August. Spain train in York
15 August. Fiji complete long journey to England
18 August. WRU announces blueprint for women’s rugby; doubts expressed
19 August. England & USA teams announced for opening game in Sunderland
19 August. Twickenham ‘sold out’ for RWC final
20 August. All 16 nations officially welcomed; all presented with special RWC cap
20 August. Lana Skeldon (Scotland) fit to play
20 August. Official England kit supplier, Castore, unable to provide fans with the kits they want
22 August. First match: England 69 USA 7; new attendance record
23 August. Scotland 38 Wales 8; Australia 73 Samoa 0; France 24 Italy 0; Canada 65 Fiji 7
23 August. 3.2 million viewers watch France match
23 August. Canada now past $950,000 in funding campaign
24 August. Ireland 42 Japan 14; NZ 54 Spain 8; South Africa 66 Brazil 6
25 August. More than 400k RWC tickets sold
25 August. Melina Salale (Samoa) given 3-match ban after red card
26 August. Kaipo Olsen-Baker’s injury less serious than feared
28 August. Wales lose both co- captains (Alex Callender and Kate Williams) to injury
29 August. Zoe Aldcroft (England) out injured for at least two games
30 August. RWC round 2: Canada 42 Wales 0; Australia 31 USA 31; England 82 Samoa 3; Scotland 29 Fiji 15
30 August. New book “Wannaby 19” by Libby Andrew (Australia)
31 August. Ireland 43 Spain 27; NZ 62 Japan 19; Italy 24 South Africa 29; France 84 Brazil 5
31 August. Sad news to finish; a recurrent foot injury forces Caroline Drouin (Stade Rennes & France) to retire, aged 29; France’s Player of the Year 2018
