Canada v England England squeezed home by the barest margin in a great tribute to Canadian rugby. A final flourish by the Player of the Match, Zoe Aldcroft, in the 80th minute is all the proof we need. The skimpy total England achieved was exactly the same as in the World Cup final a decade
WXV2 – The Last Rites All three games are here, Wales v Japan first; Australia v Scotland second; South Africa v Italy down below. The final pecking-order comes last. Wales v Japan The Sakura started with deft handling, led by Sachiko Kato, but a fluffed pass let Kayleigh Powell find a long boomer to touch.
USA v Ireland This was a key game to test Ireland’s new found buoyancy. It took them a very long time to decide the issue. They had wide options: Nicole Fowley’s big boot to send the ball deep, and their 7s players to add pace and trickery. The Eagles conceded their first penalty inside four
PWR Round 2 brings home games for Harlequins, Sale Sharks, Trailfinders and Exeter Chiefs Premiership Women’s Rugby returned with a bang last weekend with our clubs putting more than 230 points on the board, and now we turn to round two, with the first match for Sale Sharks. Saturday 12 October 3pm – Harlequins v
Canada v England – A Preview The two teams meet in a needle match that recalls the World Cup final of a decade ago. Both the captains, Tyson Beukeboom (but note a comment below) and Marlie Packer, survive, so do Emily Scarratt, Mo Hunt, Alex Matthews and Karen Paquin, though Paquin doesn’t feature here. An
Australia v Scotland Bryan Easson has made wholesale changes to his starting side. That may be a reaction to a close game against their last opponents – a win over Japan 19-13 – but some of the starters show he is still looking beyond this 2024 WXV. A prime example is Leia Brebner-Holden, who sends
Dual code international Fran Goldthorp has returned to Loughborough Lighting after spending two seasons playing Women’s National Rugby League in Australia. Goldthorp made 20 appearances for Lightning in her first spell at the club between March 2021 and March 2023, scoring seven tries as a fullback, winger and centre. She gained honours for England Under-20s
A Resignation The decision of Belinda Moore, CE of the English PWR, to resign leaves a pile of urgent questions unanswered. Why does she take this abrupt decision just as the PWR starts its second season? She could hardly have chosen a more inappropriate moment. The board’s reaction makes clear that it was not expecting
One unavoidable weakness of WXV is its shortness, only three rounds. WXV presents tables for all three divisions, but they tell us very little that we couldn’t guess beforehand, or that come as a surprise. But surprises there were, and that makes it all worthwhile. First and foremost, Ireland’s giant-killing performance against the Black Ferns.
Thrilling start of the season as Saracens, Exeter Chiefs, Bristol Bears and Gloucester-Hartpury kick off with wins. Here’s everything that happened in Round 1: Saracens 38-29 Trailfinders Women – StoneX Stadium SARACENS were given a scare by Trailfinders Women at the StoneX Stadium but the hosts did enough to prevail 38-29. Vicky Laflin scored the
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