Under the Posts – Women’s Rugby News for Sep 27 – Oct 3

Welcome to the top women’s rugby news in for Sep 27-Oct 3. World Rugby has confirmed a new cross-regional XVs tournament between Canada, USA, Australia and New Zealand, called the Pacific Four Series, and we now know the finalists for the Dr Farah Palmer Cup Premiership and Championship.

In more International XVs news, South Africa has named their squad ahead of matches against France and the Barbarians in early November, speaking of the Barbarians they have announced that Jo Yapp and Rachel Taylor have returned as coaches and Scotland will host Japan on November 14.

In domestic XVs news, the Dr Farah Palmer Cup Premiership will see Canterbury host Waikato and in the Championship Hawke’s Bay will travel to Manawatū, we also look at round 4 of Allianz Premier 15s, round 2 of Ireland’s AIL, France’s Elite 1, Scotland’s Tennent’s Premiership and round 3 of Hong Kong’s Premiership.

We close out the week with a jam packed 22 features and 14 media.

We need you! Become a supporter of our site at https://www.patreon.com/yscrugby.

tl;dr: Under the Posts – Women’s Rugby News for Sep 27-Oct 3 starts with World Rugby confirming a new Pacific Four Series, a cross-regional XVs tournament between Canada, USA, Australia and New Zealand and we know the finalists for the Dr Farah Palmer Cup Premiership and Championship.

Top Women’s Rugby News in 60 Seconds

Top Women’s Rugby News

XVs

International

• World Rugby confirmed a new annual Pacific Four Series to kick-off in 2021 with Canada and USA competing; Australia and New Zealand to join from 2022
• Springbok Women’s coach Stanley Raubenheimer has included experienced campaigners Nolusindiso Booi, Babalwa Latsha and Tayla Kinsey, who missed out on the Tests against Kenya earlier this year, in a squad of 33 players for the South Africans’ first overseas tour in four years
• Barbarians FC announced that Jo Yapp and Rachel Taylor return as coaches
• Scotland will play in front of a home crowd for the first time in two years on November 14 at Edinburgh Rugby’s new DAM Health Stadium against Japan

Domestic

• Defending champions Canterbury will host Waikato in the Premiership section after beating Wellington 26-10 on Saturday while Hawke’s Bay will travel to Manawatū for the Championship final after a 27-26 win over Northland on Friday
• Bristol and Saracens remain locked in first and second in Allianz Premier 15s while Harlequins and Exeter follow closely
• Societe Generale Valley jumps to the top of the table in Hong Kong’s Premiership followed by Natixis HKFC Ice and Kroll USRC Tigers Ladies
• Railway Union, Old Belvedere and UL Bohemian are in the top three spots of Ireland’s AIL followed by Blackrock College, Cooke and Malone
• Corstorphine still leads Scotland’s Tennent’s Premiership and is chased by Hillhead Jordanhill and Stirling County

Other News

• WRCRA has extended the deadline for their 15 Under 30 Award until October 15, 2021

Women’s Rugby Features

• After shock loss in the 2021 Rugby World Cup European Qualifiers, everyone wrote articles including:
  • Ruaidhri O’Connor writes for Independent that the IRFU has to share the blame
  • O’Connor also spoke with former Ireland international Grace Davitt who called for a transparent review
  • Murray Kinsella agrees that the IRFU must “be brutally self-critical” for The42
  • Philip Doyle shares with BBC Sport that the IRFU must separate out XVs and 7s
  • Mario Bowden with OTBSports spoke with former Ireland 15s and 7s player Alison Miller about the need to reassess the IFRU’s strategy for growing women’s rugby in Ireland
• Scotland’s Bryan Easson and captain Rachel Malcolm were in flying form in their post-match press conference after defeating Ireland
• Egypt’s Sanaa Barakat s leading the way for others through her die-hard passion for rugby as a Rugby Africa Unstoppable
• USA’s Ilona Maher bares all and how she’s lost motivation following the Olympics
• England’s Eleanor Wilkinson has been recognized by her county for the enormous contribution she’s made to girls’ rugby
• England’s Emily Scarratt will miss the 2021 Rugby World Cup (to be played in 2022) after breaking her leg in September
• Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) performance director Nigel Walker aims to fix mistakes in women’s game
• Scotland’s Louise Dalgliesh is revelling in her role as backs and attack coach with the Japan women’s 15s team
• Wales’ Siwan Lillicrap is loving life as part of the table-topping Bristol Bears team in the Allianz Premier 15s
• France’s Aurélie Groizeleau signed a semi-professional contract with the Fédération Française de Rugby in September and dreams of officiating at Rugby World Cup 2021
• Rugby Americas North Erin Kennedy answers all the questions
• Indian rugby takes baby steps towards becoming a pro sport
• The World Rugby Museum has shared new educational resources focused on the heritage of women’s rugby
• Stella Mills carries on the story around Wales’ Jasmine Joyce and her struggle to become professional
• Talking Rugby Union profiles Wasps’ Giselle Mather as they play in Allianz Premier 15s

Women’s Rugby Media

• Virgin Media News talks with 2013 Grand Slam winner Grace Davitt about the IRFU’s failures
• France’s Marjorie Mayans accepted the the title of best French international player and you won’t want to miss her acceptance speech
• Ireland’s Fiona Hayes speaks with RTE Rugby about selection decisions
• England’s Sara Cox is interviewed by BBC Sport after becoming the first female to referee a Premiership match
• Scotland’s Emma Wassell and team manager, Ellen Dickson look back on their massive win over Ireland
• Women’s Rugby Pod talked with Scotland’s Emma Wassell on the kick that put them into the Final Qualification Tournament
• England’s Natasha Hunt shares her #JerseyTales
• Ireland’s Fiona Coghlan discusses the lack of a pathway for female rugby players in Ireland with Off the Ball
• Barbardos’ Get Into Rugby Programme has launched a new promotional video aimed at getting girls into the game titled ‘Try Like a Girl’
• France’s Baptiste Serin and Marine Ménager share what a day of rehab looks like
• Wales’ Siwan Lillicrap says Wales players have accepted an apology from Welsh Rugby bosses after the Union acknowledged they have made mistakes in the women’s game
• Greaux Rugby Show: Developing Rugby (part 2) ft Amelia Luciano, Farrah Douglas, Blaine Scully, Ram Eddings, Kyle & Tiana Granby