An eventful month, with big news from around the world
1 May Sally Horrox takes over as World Rugby’s Head of Women’s Rugby
1 May Tri-Series: Fiji 14 Japan 28 (Gold Coast)
1 May Wales announce a summer stay in Canada, including a test
1 May England finish 10th at the Langford 7s, one win in five
1 May Australia win the Langford 7s and with it the World Series; NZ 2nd, Ireland 3rd
2 May Black Ferns announce a second test v Australia in the O’Reilly Cup, Adelaide, 27 August
2 May Rob Cain lists 42 players in initial training squad for Pacific-Four series and RWC; they plan a Europe tour too
4 May Black Ferns Pac-4 squad announced
5 May Canada arranges two tests: v Italy 24 July (Langford – first meeting since 1991); v Wales 27 August (Halifax)
6 May Australian Barbarians 10 Fiji XV 24 (Brisbane)
6 May Tri-Series: Australia 36 Fiji 19
7 May Bristol Bears v Quins: official attendance at Ashton Gate 4,101
9 May World Rugby discusses the Global Calendar
10 May Tri-Series: Australia 10 Japan 12 (Gold Coast); Japan complete an unbeaten tour
10 May Laure Sansus is the 2022 TikTok Player of the Six Nations
12 May WR announces the venues of the 2025, 2029 and 2033 World Cups: England, Australia and USA
14 May Premier 15s semi-finalists: Saracens. Quins, Bristol, Exeter
14 May Hillhead-Jordanhill beat Watsonian FC 10-5 in the final of the Sarah Beaney Cup at Murrayfield
16 May Laure Sansus and Céline Ferer will end their careers after the World Cup
16 May Sam Cherouk and Stéphane Eymard relieved of their duties as assistant coaches to France
18 May Gaëlle Mignot and David Ortiz appointed as assistant coaches to France
19 May Ireland: Player of the Year: Sam Monaghan; Young Player of the Year: Linda Djougang; Sevens Player of the Year: Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe
20-21 May 2nd Rugby Europe Women’s Rugby International leadership Forum in Rome
20-22 May French World Series 7s at Stade Ernest Wallon, Toulouse
24 May Patricia Garcia Rodriguez announces she will retire after the Prem 15s final
25 May The winner of the 2022 Allianz Premier 15s Award is Sadia Kabeya (Loughborough Lightning)
25 May Marlie Packer is the RPA’s England Women’s Player of the Year
25 May The RPA Hall of Fame Award goes to Katy Daley-Mclean
26 May Nine referees are honoured with appointments to the 2022 RWC in New Zealand: Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa), Maggie Cogger-Orr (New Zealand), Sara Cox (England), Hollie Davidson (Scotland), Aurélie Groizeleau (France), Lauren Jenner (New Zealand), Clara Munarini (Italy), Amber McLachlan (Australia), Joy Neville (Ireland)
26 May Gloucester announce they will increase the club’s investment in the Gloucester-Hartpury team; more matches to be played at Kingsholm
27 May Steph Veal, ex-head coach of Firwood Waterloo, appointed by Rugby Canada to a new position, Women and Girls Rugby Project Coordinator for the whole country
27 May Coumba Diallo (France) announces her retirement
29 May Valsugana Rugby Padova beat Villorba Rugby 27-10 to become champions of Italy
29 May Blagnac (Toulouse) and Stade Toulousain qualify for the Elite 1 Final in Grenoble on 4 June; they will not be sharing the coach there
29 May USA Eagles add five players to their Pacific-Four squad because nine will be involved in the Premier 15s final in England
30 May 2022 Hollie Davidson to become the first woman to referee a men’s 6 Nations side when Italy play Portugal on June 25
31 May RFU hints at possible changes to the Premier 15s
31 May SRU announces new structures for the women’s game in Scotland, to start next season
