The six teams involved are: Colombia (ranked 25th), Fiji (19th), Ireland (11th), Kazakhstan (18th), Kenya (23rd) and Spain (13th). As with WXV2, five continents are represented here, another feather in World Rugby cap. But there is a chasm-like disparity in experience, both at World Cup and general test level. Though Ireland and Kazakhstan both date
As the French squad fly out to New Zealand this Sunday, the management drop a big surprise on rugby fans. Manae Feleu is appointed to lead the team through the three WXV matches. ‘Surprise’ is hardly the word. The new co-coaches had caused an upset by demoting Gaëlle Hermet from the captaincy for the start
More unfortunate withdrawals Two of England’s injured players have now been confirmed as unable to make the trip to New Zealand. They are Lucy Packer and Sadia Kabeya. Their replacements are Daisy Hibbert-Jones who is uncapped, and Emma Sing, who has earned five caps over the past two seasons. While DH-J is a direct replacement
Red Roses flanker Sadia Kabeya and scrum-half Lucy Packer will miss the inaugural WXV tournament due to injury. Kabeya will continue to rehabilitate her hamstring after missing the Summer Series matches against Canada, while Packer sustained an ankle injury in the second Test which will keep her sidelined. Loughborough Lightning’s Daisy Hibbert-Jones and Emma Sing
The six teams are Italy, Japan, Samoa, Scotland, South Africa and USA. Unlike the six in WXV1 they don’t divide neatly along geographical lines, indeed they come from five different continents, which is gratifying. So a decision had to be made about dividing them into their two pools. It works out like this: Italy (ranked
A sad, bad story concludes Eti Haungatau, the USA centre, has been suspended for five matches by a disciplinary committee. She had been cited after receiving a yellow card for a tackle on Robyn Wilkins, the Wales No 10. After reviewing all the evidence the independent committee of three deemed the tackle to come within
Three nations, Australia, Canada and Wales, have a prime role to play in how the top division works out. They may rank behind England, France and New Zealand, but their dearest wish will be to topple one of the assumed giants. They don’t fit neatly together in the two pools of three. Wales, the one
Part One, WXV1 For the first time ever the leading nations of the world will start meeting up on an annual basis. Those six for the inaugural tournament are England, New Zealand, France, Canada, Australia and Wales. The tension is tangible. The shape of the coming tournament in New Zealand is different from anything experienced
As I feared, some of the eighteen nations have already had to announce changes to their squads of 30. First came Scotland, where the uncapped Holly McIntyre had the misfortune to have to withdraw. She is replaced by Sarah Law. Now the French management has reported two changes: both Romane Ménager and Lilou Graciet are
Home from Home More than one PWR club has a Janus-like head, facing two ways. Gloucester-Hartpury, as their double name hints, will be operating at Kingsholm, Gloucester six times this season, leaving the remaining twelve rounds to the Alpas Stadium back home in Hartpury. Loughborough Lightning have the longest neck, stretching 50-odd miles south to
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