Welcome to the top women’s rugby news in under 60 seconds for Feb 28-Mar 6. World Rugby has suspended the memberships of Russia and Belarus and affirmed their support of Ukraine. TikTok has revealed its new Championship brand and visual identity ahead of the Six Nations tournament.
The United States Congressional Rugby Caucus introduced a resolution in support of bids to host future Men and Women’s Rugby World Cups. In Ireland, chief executive Kevin Potts formally apologized to the players and while the IRFU didn’t release the entire report they did share their list of recommendations.
In 7s news, Mexico will replace Russia at Langford 7s and Japan joins as an invitational team. USA will play exhibition matches against Australia this weekend and New Zealand will finally get a run at Fiji’s Super Sevens.
We’re really excited about the announcement that the documentary No Woman No Try by Victoria Rich which tackles gender, ethnicity and sexual equality in women’s rugby will premier on Prime Video on March 25.
We close out the week with a wrap up of domestic XVs news, 10 features and 12 media.
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tl;dr: Women’s Rugby in 60 secs for Feb 28-Mar 6 saw World Rugby suspend Russia and Belarus while affirming their support for Ukraine. The Congressional Rugby Caucus introduced a resolution in support of the US hosting Men’s and Women’s Rugby World Cups.
60 Second Video Update
Featured Women’s Rugby Stories
World Rugby’s Executive Committee has confirmed new rugby sanctions for Russia and Belarus and reaffirmed its strong condemnation of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
- The full and immediate suspension of Russia and Belarus from all international rugby and cross-border club rugby activities until further notice
- The full and immediate suspension of the Rugby Union of Russia from World Rugby membership until further notice
Rugby Europe unanimously approved implementing World Rugby’s recommendations shortly after including suspension with immediate effect Russia and Belarus Rugby Unions from all Rugby Europe activities until further notice.
As others have pointed out on social media this has ripple effects on Russia’s player futures including probably missing Rugby World Cup 2025 (8th ranked in Europe and unlikely to qualify). The bigger issue is they are ranked 3rd in 7s with events already planned where they will have to be replaced. If the suspension carries on it could mean they are removed as a core team on the HSBC Sevens Circuit.
Top Women’s Rugby Stories
XVs
International
- Six Nations Rugby has revealed its new Championship brand and visual identity for the TikTok Women’s Six Nations
- Led by the colour purple and charged with a sense of energy, the new look brand is driven by the desire to give the Women’s Championship a distinctive identity fans can associate and engage with
- Entertainment platform TikTok is the first ever Title Partner of the Women’s Six Nations, alongside Breitling, its first ever Timing Partner
- Both partners join Guinness, the longstanding supporting partner of the TikTok Women’s Six Nations
- USA Rugby and the USA Rugby World Cup Bid Committee applauded the introduction of a congressional resolution expressing support for the United States’ bid to host upcoming Men’s and Women’s Rugby World Cup tournaments
- IRFU’s chief executive formally apologized the players “who have felt let down or not respected” and agreed to implement significant proposals that will begin a new era for the women’s game in Ireland
- There were over 30 recommendations included but we’ve listed out the biggies:
- Creation of a head of women’s performance and pathways role
- Upgrading of women’s 15-a-side athletic performance coach and performance analyst to full-time roles
- Provision of a dedicated women’s 15-a-side nutritionist
- Assistant coach (currently occupied by former captain Niamh Briggs) becoming a full-time role
- Creating a culture of consultation and engagement with players, including an annual culture health check of players to gather information to ensure values and standards are agreed and applied
- There were over 30 recommendations included but we’ve listed out the biggies:
Domestic
- Stade Toulousain continues to dominate Elite 1 with ASM Romagnat, AC Bobigny and FC Grenoble chasing
- CR Majadahonda leads by one point in Iberdrola with U. Seville CR, Comp Cisernos, and Olympic of Poz in the hunt
- Allianz Premier 15s is about to head off into their extended break due to the Six Nations but first Round 16! Saracens confirmed a home semi-finals while Wasps dispatched Harlequins to keep their top-four finish alive.
- The start of the inaugural Sky Super Rugby Aupiki competition was delayed due to COVID cases but Chiefs Manawa took an entertaining 28-20 pre-season victory over Matatū
- Competition will now start on Thursday, March 10, with the round-robin matches continuing on Tuesday, March 15 and Sunday, March 20
- No final will be played, with the winner being determined on points
- Super W kicked off with wins by NSW Waratahs, Fijiana Drua, and Queensland
- Earlier in the week, Western Force became the second team to announce payments for their players
- Melbourne Rebels was first with their announcement in 2021
7s
- Mexico and Japan are the final teams to compete in the HSBC Canada Women’s Sevens in Langford, BC on April 30 and May 1
- Mexico replaces Russia due to their World Rugby suspension
- USA is set to host Australia for 3-day training competition, culminating in exhibition matches played at the historic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
- The 2022 RAN Sevens Qualifiers are set to take place at Nassau, Bahamas on April 23-24
- This tournament will serve as qualifiers for the Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 in Cape Town, South Africa in September, along with The Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham, England in July
- With confirmation that the borders will open for vaccinated New Zealanders, the Black Ferns will get some much-needed game time in Fiji later this month before returning to the HSBC World Series in April
- They’re attending Fiji’s Super Sevens Series on March 10-11
Other News
- Prime Video will premiere No Woman No Try, a documentary about gender, ethnicity and sexual equality in women’s rugby, on March 25
- The film which was filmed throughout the 2020-21 rugby season, highlights male and female athletes championing change in the sport, and will feature perspectives from professional rugby players, women’s sports advocates and male allies
- The documentary is inspired by the global #IAmEnough movement that began in 2020, which was started by No Woman No Try director Victoria Rush
Women’s Rugby Features
- Wales’ Non Evans opens up about her struggle after a hamstring injury ended her rugby career
- Rosemary A. Schmidt, a former collegiate and club rugby player and now a lifelong rugby devotee, has borrowed Beantown’s rallying cry as the title of her book, Go Forward, Support: The Rugby of Life
- Super Rugby celebrates Moana Leilua, Counties Manukau Steelers Team Manager
- Zimbabwe Rugby Union have appointed Lissy Wasarirevu as the interim head coach of the Zimbabwe Lady Sables team
- Amy Perrett is keen to shake the tag as the ‘token female referee’, looking to inspire the next generation of women’s officials
- Meet Sisilia Tuipulotu, the 18-year-old Welsh rugby sensation getting advice from cousin Taulupe Faletau
- Relive the 24 hours that saw Scotland’s Women reach the Rugby World Cup
- Black Fern Aroha Savage is making a special return to the game as captain of the Blues in Super Rugby Aupiki – with double the support crew at her side
- Fiji’s Olivia Mateitoga is part of the surge in women’s rugby locally after witnessing the Fiji Airways Fijiana 7s team’s heroics at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics
- World Rugby takes a look at five players who will hope to use the tournament as a springboard to success in New Zealand
Women’s Rugby Media
- From Rugby World Cup qualification to delivering the match ball at a sold out BT Murrayfield, watch our Story of the Day from Scotland’s whirlwind 24 hours
- South Africa has decided to intensify efforts to grow – and keep relevant – women’s rugby in the country, according to director of rugby Rassie Erasmus and women’s high-performance manager Lynne Cantwell
- England’s Emily Scarratt and Wales’ Rachel Taylor on Good Scaz Rugby #11
- Women’s Rugby Pod has Ireland’s Lily Peat on to talk all things from the week
- Girls Rugby Club shares their Player Welfare Webinar with Baz Moffat and Harlequins’ Davinia Catlin
- Western Forces’ Madeline Putz believes payment in Super W should be “across the board”
- Former Wales International Tonia Antoniazzi talks rugby in Gower Parliament and the opportunities it afforded her
- Get a peek into Wales training for the upcoming Six Nations
- USA’s Rob Cain was on Eagles Overseas talking about his tour in the United Kingdom and preparing for their exhibition match against Wales in a few weeks
- Fijiana Drua Coach Senirusi Seruvakula speaks about teams’ preparation for the first match against Melbourne Rebels
- South Africa’s Lynne Cantwell shares how their recent forwards camp went
- See highlights from Sky Super Rugby’s Chiefs Manawa and Matatu
World Rugby confirms sporting sanctions for Russia and Belarus:
— World Rugby Media (@worldrugbymedia) February 28, 2022
1. Suspension of Russia & Belarus from international & cross border rugby
2. Suspension of Russia from World Rugby membership
(Belarus is not a World Rugby member)
Effective immediately https://t.co/l3xRNgsMQa
Following today's Board of Directors meeting, Russia and Belarus have been suspended. https://t.co/wqG9hz5lE8
— Rugby Europe (@rugby_europe) March 1, 2022
Following @WorldRugby's suspension of Russia and Belarus from all international and cross-border rugby competitions, World Rugby and @rugby_europe are assessing the resulting implications for the European qualification process for Rugby World Cup 2023 and other events.#RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/nEK6L9Qke4
— World Rugby Media (@worldrugbymedia) March 4, 2022
XVs
International
https://twitter.com/Womens6Nations/status/1499020169741541377
https://twitter.com/USRugbyWC/status/1499470353222934531
Here our summary of the announcements today by @IrishRugby in relation to future resources for the Irish women's 15s programme. Further thoughts later. https://t.co/Qve4MlX3qG pic.twitter.com/84jvEOBuoI
— Scrumqueens - Women’s Rugby (@ScrumQueens) March 4, 2022
Domestic
https://twitter.com/Elite1Feminine/status/1500766375496884224
Resultados de la primera (Aplazada) jornada de la @DHIberdrola @OlimpicoRugby 15 - 24 @CRAT1976 @eibarugbytaldea 19 - 12 @rugbysantcugat @RugbyfemSevilla 64 - 0 @SanseRugby @CRMajadahonda 29 - 22 @Rugby_Cisneros
— Rugby femenino (@Rugby_femenino) March 6, 2022
https://twitter.com/Premier15s/status/1500768977634660352
One heck of a pre-season hit out between the @ChiefsRugby Manawa & @MatatuRugbyClub!
— Super Rugby NZ (@SuperRugbyNZ) March 5, 2022
Bring on Thursday. #SkySuperRugbyAupiki
https://twitter.com/rugbycomau/status/1500009457329192961
https://twitter.com/westernforce/status/1499283578282135553
7s
Mexico and Japan are confirmed as the final two teams to compete at the HSBC Canada Women’s Sevens, April 30-May 1. Mexico replaces Russia who have been suspended from international rugby competition by World Rugby.
— Rugby Canada (@RugbyCanada) March 2, 2022
Read more: https://t.co/mUZNnN9iEa#RugbyCA pic.twitter.com/x0rWrR1ghy
Iconic venue and special exhibition between two of the best in rugby sevens.
— USA Rugby (@USARugby) March 3, 2022
https://twitter.com/RugbyAmericasN/status/1498348409836777487
https://twitter.com/BlackFerns/status/1499625690399973377
Other News
https://twitter.com/victoriahrush/status/1499697584788680704
https://twitter.com/victoriahrush/status/1500395886681198595
NEW: 'No Woman No Try', a new documentary exploring inequality in women’s rugby, will premiere on Amazon Prime Video on March 25 - the day before the Women's Six Nations kicks off.
— Katie Sands (@KESands) March 4, 2022
Kudos to whoever came up with the title!
Trailer here:https://t.co/dnivsoMTSS
Well it’s out there now…https://t.co/RO871HwmZm
— Non Evans MBE (@NonEvans) February 27, 2022
Much More Than a Rough and Tumble Sport, Rugby Teaches Valuable Life Lessons https://t.co/uGbtTe06oh
— The Living Acts (@thelivingacts) March 1, 2022
https://twitter.com/TheCoconetTV/status/1499522097474719755
https://twitter.com/yscrugby/status/1499882534125121540
https://twitter.com/TalkRugbyUnion/status/1498617307366580226
https://twitter.com/KESands/status/1499305468929396736
'Changing the narrative': Amy Perrett looking to lead the next generation of officials - Rugby U - https://t.co/0vjLqGZtTS #GoogleAlerts
— Scrumqueens - Women’s Rugby (@ScrumQueens) March 4, 2022
Black Ferns No.8 Aroha Savage is making a special return to the game as captain of the Blues in Super Rugby Aupiki - with her nine month old twins part of the Blues bubble. @BluesRugbyTeam @BlackFerns@SRAupiki #aupiki https://t.co/FjLEPNYnGJ
— Suzanne McFadden (@suzemcfadden) March 2, 2022
https://twitter.com/yscrugby/status/1499837269246726144
https://twitter.com/yscrugby/status/1500124165331894272
From @rugbyworldcup qualification to delivering the match ball at a sold out BT Murrayfield, watch our Story of the Day from a whirlwind 24 hours.#AsOne
— Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) March 2, 2022
SA Rugby has decided to intensify efforts to grow – and keep relevant - women’s rugby in the country, according to director of rugby Rassie Erasmus and women’s high-performance manager Lynne Cantwell. | @Sport24news https://t.co/o77Jyh6zDN
— News24 (@News24) March 1, 2022
https://twitter.com/GoodScazRugby/status/1498326669106589699
https://twitter.com/podwomensrugby/status/1499645410536792065
https://twitter.com/WelshRugbyUnion/status/1498331017643540481
https://twitter.com/ToniaAntoniazzi/status/1499708734918074369
Impressive solidarity from @westernforce’s Madeline Putz when asked about her club’s move to pay players (the bare minimum). @Reds_Rugby’s @Shan_Parry’s face for the win, though pic.twitter.com/kFQJnprXyo
— Georgina Robinson (@geerob) March 4, 2022
https://twitter.com/GirlsRugbyClub/status/1500513163128807426
https://twitter.com/EaglesOverseas/status/1499429444305494029
Fijiana Drua Coach Senirusi Seruvakula speaks about teams' preparation for the first match against Melbourne Rebels on Saturday. #duavataveilomanirakavi pic.twitter.com/uYDGqWmhdv
— Fiji Rugby Union (@fijirugby) March 2, 2022
Another forwards camp done and dusted! Thanks all involved. pic.twitter.com/iyYTILMBrP
— Springbok Women (@WomenBoks) March 5, 2022
https://twitter.com/SuperRugbyNZ/status/1500000455266807808