Gaëlle Mignot has announced the names of 35 players to take part in the next stage of preparations for WXV1, being held at Marcoussis from 5-23 August. It shows all the familiar names, with the reassuring return of Madoussou Fall from injury; she was much missed during the World Cup. Four players are absent (listed
Following Italy’s WXV play-off win against Spain last week we know how the 18 teams will line up when the first edition of World Rugby’s new global annual women’s 15s competition gets underway in October. Italy’s 23-0 victory against Spain in Piacenza seven days ago means the last piece of the inaugural WXV puzzle has
Italy v Spain Stadio Walter Beltrametti, Piacenza 22 July This match takes its special place in history as the very last qualifier to decide the three tiers of the WXV. The winners gain the last available spot in WXV2, the losers go to WXV3. If you have the gift of sympathy, you could direct it
Six teams will be heading to Dubai for WXV 3. Fiji, Ireland, Kazakhstan and Kenya have already confirmed their places, with two spots remaining to be filled by the winner of the two-leg play-off between Colombia and Brazil in Medellin, Colombia on 5 and 9 July and the loser of the play-off between Italy and
New Zealand Rugby (NZR) has confirmed Wellington, Dunedin and Auckland will host three block buster match-weekends for the inaugural WXV 1 tournament. The world’s top six international women’s rugby teams will play nine Tests during the tournament from 20 October to 4 November, with each match weekend venue hosting a standalone Friday night Test followed by
Things are really taking shape There are play-offs taking place all around the world. It’s tough keeping up with all the news. As of 8 June, this is how the three levels look (teams already qualified in bold): Tier One (three locations in New Zealand): England, France, Wales, plus three from Australia, Canada, New Zealand
Asia Rugby Women’s Championship Almaty, Kazakhstan This was just what the doctor and World Rugby ordered. A tight, exciting game played in a corner of central Asia that is rarely the centre of attention. Kazakhstan deserved their narrow win. They have been deprived of international matches far more than they wished. They have competed several
It is five months to the start of the inaugural WXV how are things shaping up? Tier One Contestants: England, France, Wales and three from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and USA. This involves the cream of the world’s rugby players, yet the gaps between them remain obstinately wide. Some of the recent scores underline the
How does Tier One look from here? As we approach the excitng WXV, still five months away, let’s glance at how the nations qualified for Tier 1 are shaping up. France My headline refers of course to France, who had the mixed pleasure of playing away in front of the largest audience yet experienced by
Now that World Rugby has published dates and locations of the WXV, we can trace the Red Roses’ path forward a little more clearly. The fixtures for Tier 1 will take place in Aotearoa next October and November. That offers five months of preparation. But the new Head Coach has other responsibilities which prevent him
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