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
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
Here are the eighteen squads as originally advertised. Inevitably there may be last-minute adjustments. I’m afraid World Rugby is not awarding a prize for the first person to recite all 540 names by memory. Australia Emily Chancellor (Harlequins), Bree-Anna Cheatham (Queensland Reds), Annabelle Codey (Queensland Reds), *Brianna Hoy (NSW Waratahs), Eva Karpani (NSW Waratahs), Atasi
The whole of French rugby has been understandably preoccupied with the great events of a first home men’s world cup. Now at last we get details from the women’s camp about their squad of 30 to undertake the trip to New Zealand. It is: Carla Arbez (Stade Bordelais) Cyrielle Banet (Montpellier HR) Axelle Berthoumieu (Blagnac RF)
Here are the 30 players to represent England in the inaugural WXV: Forwards: Zoe Aldcroft (co-vice-captain, Gloucester-Hartpury), Maisy Allen (Exeter Chiefs), Lark Atkin-Davies (Bristol Bears), Sarah Beckett (Gloucester-Hartpury), Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears), Hannah Botterman (Bristol Bears), Mackenzie Carson (Gloucester-Hartpury), Kelsey Clifford (Saracens), Amy Cokayne (Leicester Tigers), Rosie Galligan (Saracens), Sadia Kabeya (Loughborough Lightning), Alex Matthews
Juan Gonzalez has announced the names of the 30 players to represent Spain in WXV3. They are: María del Castillo (Olímpico Pozuelo), Inés Antolínez (El Salvador), Marta Estellés (CR Majadahonda), Cristina Blanco (Ealing Trailfinders), María de las Huertas Román (Universitario de Sevilla), Sidorella Bracic (Olímpico Pozuelo), Laura Delgado (Gloucester Hartpury), Anna Puig (UE Santboiana), Victoria
Take a look at the Wallaroos’ fixture-list (down below) and wince. But they are made of sterner stuff than mere reporters, so they will be relishing meeting in sequence the world second-ranked whom they’ve never beaten, the first-ranked and the third-ranked. We can only imagine how their last WXV game against Wales will turn out.
World Rugby has confirmed the Emirates Match Official appointments for all three levels of the inaugural WXV competition, which will take place in New Zealand, South Africa and Dubai in October and November. Match officials appointed for first two rounds of WXV across three continents in October and November A total of 18 match officials
University of Western Province, Cape Town One of the more intriguing warm-ups for the WXV; just a pity that it couldn’t have been held in Kenya. The Boks already had the advantage of higher ranking, 12th/23rd, and a place in WXV2 as against WXV3. And they had superiority where it matters, up front. When Aimee
A Black Ferns Squad Allan Bunting and his staff have named only 30 players for the Black Ferns’ three WXV1 matches (see below). This relatively small number is understandable for a team playing at home. But it means that certain positions are less well stocked than others. The reassuring news of Charmaine Smith’s return after
Social Networks