Here is the October 2025 Rugby Diary
1st October – Allan Bunting now out of contract as Director of Performance with Black Ferns; can he persuade NZR to retain him?
1st England’s world ranking now at all-time high, 98.09
1st. Jade Konkel (ex-Scotland and still Quins) becomes a leading firefighter
3rd. RWC Dream Team announced
3rd. Review of the Black Ferns has begun
4th. WRU has completed its consultations over elite rugby in Wales
6th. France’s glamorous Nuit du Rugby takes place at the Olympia, Paris; Teani Feleu named International Player of the Year
6th. Robin Wilkins (Wales and Sale) announces her retirement
6th. 30,000 tickets already sold for England v Ireland at Twickenham next spring
6th. Tearful farewells as Jo Yapp and the Wallaroos part company
6th. Wallaroos’ High Performance coach, Jaime Fernandez, resigns
7th. Leading national unions warn players against joining R360
8th. World Rugby introduces strict limits on number of matches for elite players
8th. Andy Rhys Jones appointed to new post, Head of Scotland Women’s High Performance
9th. Nick Heath joins PWR as broadcasting consultant
9th. Genevieve Shore, CE of PWR, gives her views on R360; it could leave players in limbo, etc
10th. Sam Needs appointed interim Head Coach of Wallaroos till the end of WXV 2026
10th. USA 7s season gets under way
11th. Start of AXA Elite 1 league in France
11th. Final of PWR cup final: Saracens 33 Quins 23
11th. Bryony Cleall (England and Sarries) retires
12th. Warren Abrahams (head coach of Wales 2020-21) dies aged 43
12th. Chloe Rollie and Sofia Stefan play their first game for newly promoted Toulon; they lose 20-27 to Blagnac
13th. Fancy Bermudez (Canada) moves from Sarries to Loughborough
13th. Ellie Kildunne (England and Quins) one of six nominees for BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year, the nation’s top annual sporting award
13th. Hollie Davidson to referee two men’s tests, including the All Blacks for the first time
14th. Trileen Pomare and Lydia Kavoa (Australia) announce their retirement
14th. USA Rugby invites applications for post of Head Coach for the 15s squad
14th. Ella Wyrwas (England) and Maeve Og O’Leary (Ireland) both recovering from operations to both knees
14th. After two rounds of AXA Elite 1 Stade Bordelais, triple champions, lie last of ten with nul points; there have been transfers!
16th. The Scottish RU is taking charge of the GB 7s programme
17th. Tabua Tuinakauvadra is named Wallaroos Player of the Year
19th. First round of Serie 1 Elite in Italy
20th. Japan retain the 7s Asia Cup
20th. USA 7s play warm-ups against Australia and NZ at Toowoomba
20th. After three rounds of the Irish AIL Galwegians and UL Bohemian remain unbeaten
21st. Emily Scarratt announces her retirement, but will take on coaching role with the RFU
21st. France Rugby seeks applications for the post of head coach of Les Bleues
21st. Quins sign Manuqalo Komaitai (Fiji, Irish Guards and RL’s Valkyries
22nd. Maya Montiel (Canada) moves from Sarries to Trailfinders
23rd. NZR announces exhaustive domestic and international programmes
23rd. Dates announced for Celtic Challenge 2025-26; still 6 teams; dates 20 December – 29 March
23rd. Loughborough’s new clubhouse is housed inside the Captain’s Bar at Northampton
23rd. Layla Sae and Liana Mikaele Tu’u (NZ) sign for Quins; that makes five Black Ferns in England
23rd. Gemma Fay appointed first MD of Scotland women’s rugby
23rd. Laura Keates (62 caps for England) announces her retirement
23rd. Olivia Apps (Canada) to join Saracens as ‘injury cover’
23rd. McKenzie Hunt (Canada) leaves Saracens and the PWR
24th. First round of PWR starts
24th. WRU plans include establishing a 4-team league to attract players back from England
28th. Canterbury of NZ renews its partnership with PWR; will supply kit to all players
29th. I had to think twice as I read: ‘Bevan to join Bristol Bears’; it isn’t Keira!
30th. Hollie Davidson becomes one of thirteen inductees to Scotland’s Hall of Fame
31st. Last date for applying for post of USA head coach
