Welcome to the top women’s rugby news for Mar 29-Apr 4! We start with Canada winning the opening weekend of the Emirates Invitational 7s, while England and France ran riot over Scotland and Wales in the first matches of the postponed Six Nations.
In more XVs news, Scrum Queens reports that New Zealand has proposed that the postponed 2021 Rugby World Cup take place in October and November to avoid conflicts with the 2022 Rugby World Cup 7s tournament in Cape Town. We also took a look at RTP in the USA where almost half the country is back on the pitch in some form.
In domestic competitions, Allianz Premier 15s is almost ready to announce a broadcast partner for their semi-finals and Championship!
In 7s news, World Rugby confirmed that 7s will take place in Los Angeles June 25-27 and they’ve postponed the planned event in Marcoussis. The 2022 Commonwealth Games have announced their qualification process.
We close out the week with a few tidbits in our “Other News” section as well as twelve player features and ten media.
tl;dr: Under the Posts – Women’s Rugby News for Mar 29-Apr 4 sees Canada win the opening round of the Emirates Invitational 7s while England and France recorded wins in the first matches of the postponed Six Nations
Video Summary
Weekly Women’s Rugby
News
XVs
- England defeated Scotland 52-10 while France blanked Wales 53-0
- New Zealand has proposed to World Rugby that the postponed 2021 Rugby World Cup be played in October and November to avoid conflicts with the 2022 Rugby World Cup 7s
- We update return to play status for USA WPL, club and college rugby
- Hong Kong Premiership season has been cancelled but they’re still planning on holding the Asia Rugby Championships and working towards the sevens repechage qualifiers for the Olympics
- Allianz Premier 15s will announce a broadcast partner for their semi-finals and Championship soon
- Scrum Queens catches us up on France Elite 1 league which is halfway through but on a pause until the Six Nations complete
- Blues and Chiefs will stage the first-ever women’s rugby clash between two New Zealand Super Clubs
7s
- Canada beat USA 31-14 to claim the opening weekend of Emirates Invitational 7s
- World Rugby confirms Los Angeles 7s from June 25-27 and announces that the planned event in Marcoussis is postponed due to COVID concerns
- The qualification process for the 2022 Commonwealth games has been announced
- Malaysia is in camp preparing for the Asia Rugby Women’s 7s Series
- New Zealand continues to prepare for the Olympics with Takiwhitu Tuturu April 9-10
Other News
- WRCRA compares the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship inequities with the current state of women’s rugby
- Sporting History highlights Emily Valentine as one of it’s 20 female sporting heroes
- Maggie Alphonsi is the ambassador for the women’s Six Nations Championship
- Rugby Africa announces their Women’s Rugby Advisory Committee (WRAC) including representatives and their areas of focus
Women’s Rugby Player Features
- Former Ireland Fiona Coghlan will be commentating and she shares her thoughts with Scrum Queens ahead of the first kick-off
- World Rugby talks to the Italy Rugby board member Erika Morri about her relationship with the game and how rugby can be used as a tool to combat bullying
- Brown University’s Tara Mack shares her path to public office
- Wales’ Gemma Rowland chats with Scrum Queens about new beginnings
- Rugby Africa Women’s Rugby Advisory Committee (WRAC) Chairperson Paula Lanco “believes in the power of action”
- Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee (FASANOC) vice-president Cathy Wong has been celebrated as part of International Women’s Day for her decades of contribution to women’s rugby
- Wasps’ Andrea Stock is hoping to catch the eye of the Irish selectors
- Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) board member, Peris Mukoko is among 12 women to receive World Rugby Executive Leadership Scholarships
- South Africa’s Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus reveals his priority list for the women Springboks
- England’s Abi Burton shares how after years of suffering from body-dysmorphia and crippling self-doubt she is ready to demonstrate to the world how proud she is of her body
Women’s Rugby Media/Podcasts/Videos
- Ireland’s Anna Caplice talks with The Six O’Clock Show about why she decided to change the language she uses when discussing women’s sport
- Try Hards runs through all of the changes for the postponed Six Nations and the players their most excited about
- Talking Rugby Union has England’s Jess Breach to chat about the Six Nations
- Allianz Premier 15s shares Bristol’s Simi Pam life on & off the pitch
- Fill your Boots talks University Rugby
- England features Hannah Botterman and Poppy Cleal where they discuss their early caps
- Goff Rugby chats with USA Rugby players about WXV and why it matters
- The Women’s Rugby Pod also talks everything Six Nations
- Greaux Rugby Show talks with Jess Neilson, Head Coach of York University Rugby and Canada Rugby National Team
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XVs
Here are the scores on the doors after R1! 👀#WomensSixNations pic.twitter.com/n3qcXfFuFO
— TikTok Women's Six Nations (@Womens6Nations) April 3, 2021
The first round of the women’s Six Nations saw England dismantle Scotland 52-10 and France blank Wales 53-0. It was nice to see international rugby live but it really highlighted the widening gap of semi-professionals and amateurs.
Reports in NZ say the postponed World Cup will take place in October and November in 2022 (and not September and October as would have been this year) to avoid clashes with the 7s World Cup. https://t.co/bVdaIJrfrP
— Scrumqueens - Women’s Rugby (@ScrumQueens) April 2, 2021
Unconfirmed but a proposal has been shared with World Rugby of moving the delayed 2021 Rugby World Cup to October and November in 2022. This would help avoid conflicts with the 2022 Rugby World Cup 7s tournament in Cape Town.
USA RTP Update for WPL, Clubs and Colleges #wrugby https://t.co/qiPBzGM172 pic.twitter.com/mdJUaPsmWp
— YSCRugby - Women's Rugby 🏉🏳️⚧️✊ (@yscrugby) March 30, 2021
We’ve updated our RTP post and more and more states in the USA are playing rugby! Great news as we all look to returning to the game we love.
.@HongKongRugby’s Premiership seasons cancelled over Covid-19 concerns; all youth and community leagues to resume in April https://t.co/r20kB9Sya9
— SCMP Sport (@SCMP_Sport) March 29, 2021
Hong Kong men’s and women’s Premiership seasons have been cancelled over Covid-19 concerns.
Hong Kong’s national teams have several upcoming dates on the international rugby calendar, including the women’s Asia Rugby Championship campaign – which acts as qualifiers for the postponed 2021 Rugby World Cup – scheduled for May, and men’s and women’s sevens repechage qualifiers for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Monaco on June 19-20.
Women's Premier 15s semi-finals and final set for free-to-air broadcast deal https://t.co/8Q8TIPCYOn pic.twitter.com/iscJKcpw7m
— YSCRugby - Women's Rugby 🏉🏳️⚧️✊ (@yscrugby) March 30, 2021
“The RFU is expected to name the broadcaster that will show this season’s Premier 15s semi-finals and final in May within weeks!
While BT Sport is being tipped by some inside the game as the frontrunner to show the Premier 15s showpiece matches, other broadcasters are believed to still be in talks with the RFU.
Even if the rights do go to BT Sport or another pay-TV channel, the matches are expected to be shown free as part of the deal in order to maximise viewers.
All matches in the Premier 15s, which has completed only two seasons since launching in 2017 due to last season’s league being cancelled during the first Covid-19 lockdown, have been available online in recent months with record figures watching.”
A quick catch-up with France's elite league where on form @JessTremouliere and Cyrelle Banet lead the kicking and try scoring tables. https://t.co/JkVMWeVVLL pic.twitter.com/7zYHc7fG4x
— Scrumqueens - Women’s Rugby (@ScrumQueens) March 29, 2021
France’s Elite 1 league is now midway through the play-off phase and working towards a Championship in June. Montpellier and Toulouse have already qualified for the Playoffs.
The league is on pause until the Six Nations finishes.
Blues and Chiefs combine for historic first Super Rugby Aotearoa Women’s match | Chiefs Rugby | News https://t.co/3VRbD0Y9G7 pic.twitter.com/kMiZRzu2Ev
— YSCRugby - Women's Rugby 🏉🏳️⚧️✊ (@yscrugby) March 29, 2021
Blues and Chiefs will create history when they stage the first-ever women’s rugby clash in New Zealand between the two Super clubs. The historic encounter will be played as a double header before the Blues host the Gallagher Chiefs in Sky Super Rugby Aotearoa at Eden Park on Saturday, May 1.
7s
Final scores of the day at the Emirates Invitational 7s tournament at the @SevensStadium pic.twitter.com/n8KESAzBKp
— Emirates Dubai 7s (@Dubai7s) April 3, 2021
.@RugbyCanada’s 🇨🇦 Women's 7s Team are the Emirates Invitational 7s Women’s Champions! 🏆
— Team Canada (@TeamCanada) April 4, 2021
👉 They defeated the USA 31-14 on Saturday to take the title 🔥
👉 Finished with a 5-1 record 🙌
Both the women & men will play again in next weekend's tournament 🗓
📸: @Dubai7s 🏉 pic.twitter.com/hXvU8GcDVH
Canada conquered weekend one of the Emirates Invitational 7s tournament. They defeated the USA 31-14 in the final and went 5-1 on the weekend. Teams take the week to recover and get back at it starting on Thursday.
They were able to announce a live stream the day of, so stay turned to their social media for viewing opportunities.
Rugby sevens ‘Road to Tokyo’ taking shape as 14 women’s and men’s international teams arrive in Dubai for a competitive high-performance training camp https://t.co/8ZfuOKqJPN
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) April 1, 2021
Rumoured for the last week, but now confirmed, that the back-to-back World Series tournaments in Marcoussis next month have now been "postponed" due to COVID.
— Scrumqueens - Women’s Rugby (@ScrumQueens) April 1, 2021
This weekend in Dubai and the tournament in LA in June now only scheduled pre-Olympic warm-ups in calendar. https://t.co/vf1L73sRAs
The road to Tokyo is taking shape! World Rugby highlights the fourteen teams competing in Dubai and confirms that the Los Angeles event will take place June 25-27.
They did confirm that the event in Marcoussis is postponed due to the increased COVID-19 risks and restrictions implemented in France.
Eight teams for Commonwealth Games | Scrum Queens https://t.co/xOofIOqaPM pic.twitter.com/tYKUcskKyl
— YSCRugby - Women's Rugby 🏉🏳️⚧️✊ (@yscrugby) April 1, 2021
World Rugby have published details about the qualification process for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
8 teams will take part:
- * England (Hosts)
- * Two best placed Commonwealth teams from the 2020 and 2021 World Series
- * The best-placed North American team. If a North American team is already in the top two, the side from that region with the next best record in World Series or regional tournaments will qualify.
- * Four regional qualification winners from Africa, Asia, Europe and Oceania.
#ReturnToPlay Great to see the 🇲🇾 #Malaysia 🚺 Women's 7s team in training. 🏃🏻♀️🤼♀️
— Asia Rugby (@asiarugby) April 2, 2021
In preparation for the 🌏🏉Asia Rugby Women's Series 🥇🥈🥉 #ARWS
Played over 3 legs 🇰🇷 #Korea7s, 🇨🇳 #China7s and 🇱🇰 #SriLanka7s@MalaysiaRugby @CRFAChinaRugby @KoreaRugbyUnion @SriLankaRugby_ pic.twitter.com/SePTsTGFFr
Malaysia is in camp preparing for the Asia Rugby Women’s 7s Series.
We’re coming for you Welly! 🙌🏼
— All Blacks Sevens (@AllBlacks7s) March 30, 2021
FULL DETAILS ➡️ https://t.co/LpI7XhxCnq#TakiwhituTūturu #Pure7s pic.twitter.com/py4AzejxQV
Other News
“There is no new dawn of enlightenment coming - equity for women in any field is an ongoing battle. If there is a lesson for #wrugby in the basketball debacle, it’s that no amount of success protects female athletes from discrimination.
— YSCRugby - Women's Rugby 🏉🏳️⚧️✊ (@yscrugby) March 30, 2021
https://t.co/5CNrJjqIgk pic.twitter.com/Iu1dPpDimv
WRCRA looks at the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship and the inequities it highlighted.
Emily Valentine is one of 20 female sporting heroes brought to life by @sportinghistory and @JessicaHartsho5
— World Rugby Museum (@wrugbymuseum) March 31, 2021
You can download all of the resources here-https://t.co/BGQQd6IrT7 pic.twitter.com/h3lyM3OgLz
Emily Valentine is one of 20 female sporting heroes brought to life by Sporting History and Jessica Hartshorn.
I am truly over the moon to be named as the @Womens6Nations ambassador. I can’t wait for a cracking 4 weeks of rugby starting tomorrow with #ENGvSCO and #FRAvWAL! #WomensSixNations https://t.co/tAUb5RmNqQ pic.twitter.com/nlYwUoKKV3
— Maggie Alphonsi MBE (@MaggieAlphonsi) April 2, 2021
Six Nations is proud to announce that seven-time Women’s Six Nations champion, six-time Grand Slam winner, World Rugby Hall of Fame inductee and now respected rugby pundit Maggie Alphonsi will be part of the Women’s Six Nations team as an ambassador for this year’s Championship.
Championing Gender Equality in Sports - @RugbyAfrique Launches the Women’s Rugby Advisory Committee - Rugby Afrique https://t.co/fuuHjTgkFv pic.twitter.com/zedPS8B3Ek
— YSCRugby - Women's Rugby 🏉🏳️⚧️✊ (@yscrugby) April 2, 2021
Rugby Africa has strengthened their ongoing support for gender equality by paving the way in women’s sport with the launch of the Women’s Rugby Advisory Committee (WRAC) and sub-committees.
As part of Rugby Africa’s broader strategy, the role of WRAC and its sub committees is to define key performance indicators that demonstrate progress of the development of women in rugby across Africa to promote gender inclusion practices that foster growth and development within the sport.
The committee will provide a platform for females in all spheres of in rugby to be recognised for the crucial value their contribution and participation provides towards shaping the future of the global game.
The four sub-committees will focus on key areas of advancing governance and leadership, competitions, player welfare, development, and retention to meet strategic goals for women’s rugby across Africa.
NEW: Great to catch up with @CoghlanFiona on Ireland's chances in the @Womens6Nations , the grassroots game there, the future of the Championship & the importance of TV coverage
— Scrumqueens - Women’s Rugby (@ScrumQueens) March 31, 2021
➡️https://t.co/tYDYmigPw0 pic.twitter.com/8YwFhXtg16
https://twitter.com/yscrugby/status/1376534777138982912
https://twitter.com/yscrugby/status/1377697468347994119
Kenya's Peris Mukoko among the World Rugby Executive Leadership Scholarship recipients - HapaKenya https://t.co/fJkDX7dAzz pic.twitter.com/inoOMxqhGX
— YSCRugby - Women's Rugby 🏉🏳️⚧️✊ (@yscrugby) April 3, 2021
https://twitter.com/yscrugby/status/1376655471910735877
Wales captain Siwan Lillicrap hopes the WRU "stay true to their word" on their promises last summer for the Welsh women's team to go professional in the future
— BBC Sport Wales (@BBCSportWales) March 31, 2021
➡️ https://t.co/l9ThRmvaZp pic.twitter.com/6FamgZuuih
https://twitter.com/yscrugby/status/1377742630457638912
FASANOC vice-president Wong praised for service to women's rugby https://t.co/cyrww0YIoN pic.twitter.com/zjaBEN3KeH
— YSCRugby - Women's Rugby 🏉🏳️⚧️✊ (@yscrugby) April 3, 2021
"Society instills in us the need to gain the approval of men, that is what you’re taught between 13 to 18."@AbiLucyBurton is ready to demonstrate to the world how proud she is of her body – a professional rugby player’s body.https://t.co/8HGDyrXARN
— Telegraph Women’s Sport (@WomensSport) March 30, 2021
Pipeline is the priority in South Africa women’s rugby rebuild https://t.co/lHNl10RFvx pic.twitter.com/aYtTRk2iGS
— YSCRugby - Women's Rugby 🏉🏳️⚧️✊ (@yscrugby) March 31, 2021
Mukoko picked for World Rugby scholarship programme https://t.co/F67yHFlmOq pic.twitter.com/t530PAbYwC
— YSCRugby - Women's Rugby 🏉🏳️⚧️✊ (@yscrugby) April 3, 2021
Andrea’s rugby Stock is rising in England | Southern Star https://t.co/3YnUAOPFBX pic.twitter.com/caNxsxenDG
— YSCRugby - Women's Rugby 🏉🏳️⚧️✊ (@yscrugby) April 4, 2021
"If you go to the men's game, why wouldn't you come to the women's game?"
— The Six O'Clock Show (@SixOClockShow) March 29, 2021
Ireland Rugby star @bananacaplice on why she decided to change the language she uses when discussing women's sport. #SixVMTV pic.twitter.com/6jailrcPfk
POD POD POD!!!
— Try Hards Podcast (@TheTryHardsPod) March 31, 2021
S3 Ep 22: Women's Six Nations Preview is LIIIIVE!
The #TryHards go through the runners and riders in this year's Championship, talk about the format, the changes and why they're so excited!
Links below! pic.twitter.com/WJkM0mFD2W
✅ @jessbreach
— Talking Rugby Union (@TalkRugbyUnion) April 2, 2021
✅ Simon Middleton
✅ Plenty of @Womens6Nations chat
With the Women's Six Nations starting this weekend, TRU have previewed the tournament in this bumper podcast.
Listen to what @joeharvey34, @c_heal & @_ElizabethC99_ had to say below⤵️https://t.co/l09Wg8rkCM pic.twitter.com/fSaTFLQgvk
FYB The Hard Line - LIVE TONIGHT
— Fill Your Boots 🏉 (@fyb_rugby) March 30, 2021
Joining host @LucyeWare on the topic of University Rugby are Jordan Young, Rebecca Dyson, Emily McBarron & Anya Foxworthy-Bowers.
Get involved by getting your comments & questions into the chat!
Tune in - Tues 30th March at 19.30 📺@fyb_rugby pic.twitter.com/BJzmF8qISB
Before any major tournament, it is always exciting to see the new names who could go on to make their international debuts...
— Talking Rugby Union (@TalkRugbyUnion) March 31, 2021
Ahead of the @Womens6Nations, TRU's Gary Heatly has spoken to those who have witnessed the rise of Scotland's uncapped quartet.https://t.co/SoV8bGr2ug pic.twitter.com/9kdS3nBXNq
My Life: On & Off the Pitch.@simsimpam: @BristolBearsW#Premier15s pic.twitter.com/wcHD545Hlx
— Allianz Premier 15s (@Premier15s) April 2, 2021
"Just hang on, there's only 10 minutes left."#RedRoses legend @Timmytammy8 had some words of advice when @Hanbotts arrived on the international scene 😃
— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) March 31, 2021
Listen to Botts and @poppy_g_c discuss their early England caps 👇#WearTheRose @o2sports
We asked members of the @USAWomenEagles about @WorldRugby 's WXV ... here's what they said. @USARugby https://t.co/0isamKRu10
— Alex Goff (@goffrugbyreport) March 31, 2021
Big week, so a comprehensive @podwomensrugby. We have every angle of the @Womens6Nations covered. 2 of the captains, 🏴 @SiwanLillicrap & 🏴 @rach_malcolm PLUS 🏴 @LarkDavies.
— Johnnie Hammond (@JohnnieHammond) April 2, 2021
Enjoy........... https://t.co/DLYNiag1xg pic.twitter.com/ni7RD3chtF
Greaux Rugby Show: Jess Neilson, Head Coach of York University Rugby and Canada Rugby National Team https://t.co/2PnkMOxtHx pic.twitter.com/fl8alyMPBj
— YSCRugby - Women's Rugby 🏉🏳️⚧️✊ (@yscrugby) April 4, 2021