Welcome to the top women’s rugby news in under 60 seconds for Apr 25-May 1. We saw England take home the 2022 TikTok Six Nations Grand Slam, their 13th overall and fourth in a row while Australia won Langford 7s and clinched the 2022 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series title.
In more XVs news, Japan defeated Fiji in their first match of three in Australia, Portugal defeated Germany in the Europe Trophy competition, and New Zealand will host the 2022 Pacific Four Series between themselves, Australia, Canada and USA from May 3-10.
In domestic XVs news, DHL Western leads South Africa’s Premier Division after two weeks, Berkeley and Colorado lead their conferences in USA’s WPL, and we have all the updates on USA’s Club Super Regionals.
In more 7s news, South Africa and Madagascar have qualified for the 2022 Rugby World Cup 7s, and Zack Test joins the USA Eagles as an assistant coach.
We close out the week with 14 features and 9 media.
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tl;dr: Women’s Rugby in 60 secs for Apr 25-May 1 saw England take home the 2022 TikTok Six Nations Grand Slam, their 13th overall and Australia have won Langford 7s and the 2022 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.
60 Second Video Update
Top Women’s Rugby Stories
XVs
International
- England take home the 2022 TikTok Six Nations Grand Slam, their 13th overall
- Japan defeated Fiji 28-14 and will play the Australia Barbarians on May 6 and Australia on May 10
- Portugal defeated Germany 57-0 in the Europe Trophy
- New Zealand had a big news week:
- The Black Ferns will host the 2022 Pacific Four Series between the Black Ferns, Australia, Canada and USA from May 3-10
- They also announced the Laurie O’Reilly Series with two matches against Australia in August
- Former Black Ferns Sevens Coach Allan Bunting will join the Black Ferns in a newly created role, Manager of Culture and Leadership
Domestic
- DHL Western leads South Africa’s Premier Division after two weeks
- Army women lifted the Babcock Trophy after defeating Navy 68-0
- Berkeley and Colorado lead their conferences in USA’s WPL
- USA’s Club Super Regionals took place in the Atlantic region this weekend:
- D1 – NOVA defeated Atlanta Harlequins 36-3 and will face the Chicago Lions on 5/20 in Atlanta, GA
- D2 – Providence defeated Severn River in a tight match, 9-5 and will face an opponent from the Norther Super Regional (TBD on May 7-8)
- The majority of the remaining Super Regionals will take place this weekend
7s
- Australia have won Langford 7s and the 2022 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series
- Black Ferns placed second and Ireland third
- South Africa and Madagascar have qualified for the 2022 Rugby World Cup 7s
- Zack Test joins the USA Eagles as an assistant coach
- USA’s Jessica Watkins is the second rugby player in space and the first Black woman to complete a long-term mission aboard the ISS
- University of Chicago took home the 2022 Small College 7s National Championship
Women’s Rugby Features
A quick reminder that these are articles from the past week so many speak about events that have already occurred.
- England’s Sarah Bern talks about the challenges facing the players who are still juggling their day jobs with playing
- Following the Fijiana Drua’s historic Super W success, the squad turns its attention to Rugby World Cup 2021 preparation, starting with two test matches in Queensland over the next week
- Ireland’s Lindsey Peat writes that her “heart was breaking for Ireland players forced to compete in an unfair fight”
- England’s Zoe Harrison shares where England want to be heading into decisive France clash
- Ireland’s Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe keen to drive Ireland onto Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022
- After Emily Scarratt became the fifth Englishwoman to reach 100 test caps, World Rugby look at the numbers behind her brilliant career
- Ireland’s Cliodhna Moloney writes for the Irish Examiner that passion and grit will only get them so far
- United Rugby Championship chief ‘would love’ to see women’s competition
- Ireland’s Molly Scuffil-McCabe is soaking up new experiences in the green jersey
- Becky Grey writes for BBC what England must do to stay ahead for the World Cup
- Ali Donnelly writes for Scrum Queens that “there are no more excuses for those countries who hold back support”
- Marina Kishmar of Odessa rugby and her teammates continue to train even during the war
- Ahead of the final round of fixtures in the TikTok Women’s 6 Nations this weekend, the organisation’s CEO Ben Morel has revealed that future scheduling of the women’s championship “will be distinct” from the men’s and see England’s clash with France dominate the conclusion of the championship
- Irish women’s 15s players set to seal contracts for next season
Women’s Rugby Media
A quick reminder that this is media from the past week so many speak about events that have already occurred.
- Off the Ball speaks with Jill Henderson, Therese Kennedy and Tanya Waters about taking part in the first ever Irish international women’s rugby match
- OTB also chatted through if we should criticize basic errors in an amateur side when they play professionals
- England’s Abbie Ward was on O2 Inside Line to talk about challenges faced, marriage as well as her motivation and ambitions
- BBC Sport Wales talks with Wales’ Kelsey Jones as she reflects on the excitement of inspiring the next generation of players
- England’s Emily Scarratt takes us through some of the jerseys that have helped define her career
- We were honored to be on Ruck ‘n’ Roll this week with Grav, Ryan Worley, Harley Worthy to talk W6N, rugby players in space and rugby’s savior Ilona Maher
- Watch the moment that New Zealand’s Portia Woodman made history with 200 tries
- Rugby Union Weekly covers England’s Grand Slam win and all the final TikTok Six Nations matches
- The Good, The Scaz and The Rugby talks with former Irish International Gill Bourke
XVs
International
https://twitter.com/Womens6Nations/status/1520425345161338880
https://twitter.com/Womens6Nations/status/1520754913281658880
https://twitter.com/JRFURugby/status/1520657551490097152
https://twitter.com/rugby_europe/status/1520461559511855105
Pacific Four Series 2022 is heading to New Zealand!@BlackFerns, @RugbyCanada, @USARugby and @WallaroosRugby will face-off as preparations ramp up ahead of #RWC2021, playing in 2022
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) April 25, 2022
https://twitter.com/AllBlacks/status/1518684402150109185
https://twitter.com/BlackFerns/status/1519156931138490368
XVs
Domestic
Log after week 2️⃣ of Premier Division. pic.twitter.com/NktNKDZmcs
— Springbok Women (@WomenBoks) April 30, 2022
https://twitter.com/USARugby/status/1521280286645837824
https://twitter.com/ForcesNews/status/1520461332436426753
Atlantic women’s D1 full time final score:
— 2022 Atlantic Super Regional Rugby Festival (@Atlanticrugby22) May 1, 2022
Northern Virginia 36
Atlanta Harlequins 3
.@usaclubrugby @capitalrugby @RugbyWrapUp @Matt_ORourke1 pic.twitter.com/we9g7fptwq
Atlantic women’s D2 full time championship final score:
— 2022 Atlantic Super Regional Rugby Festival (@Atlanticrugby22) May 1, 2022
.@ProvidenceRFC 8
Severn River 5
.@usaclubrugby @NewEnglandRugby @capitalrugby @Matt_ORourke1 @RugbyWrapUp pic.twitter.com/emB7w9qOLZ
BREAKING: @LUWomensRugby wins Back-to-Back-to-Back-Back @USARugby Women’s D1 Elite 15’s National Championship!
— Lindenwood Lions (@LU_Lions) May 1, 2022
Dominated opponents on the way to their 4th straight 15’s title and outscored opponents 113-0 in their two playoff wins! pic.twitter.com/cPhLqLcEUj
7s
International
https://twitter.com/WorldRugby7s/status/1520816226615889924
https://twitter.com/WorldRugby7s/status/1520494266426048514
https://twitter.com/WorldRugby7s/status/1520707555223392257
https://twitter.com/WorldRugby7s/status/1520707546708955136
https://twitter.com/WomenBoks/status/1520453010463334400
Sevens legend @ZTesty5 officially onboard following extensive candidate search and evaluation.
— USA Rugby (@USARugby) April 27, 2022
https://twitter.com/USARugby/status/1519330473989885952
Domestic
https://twitter.com/ncrrugby/status/1520845672035061761
"Everyone should have equal opportunity.”
— Scrumqueens - Women’s Rugby (@ScrumQueens) May 1, 2022
England prop Sarah Bern suggests the demands on players at test level are becoming unsustainable for those juggling day jobs and playing. https://t.co/03W3VwgpvX pic.twitter.com/EB8KFOIYWg
https://twitter.com/yscrugby/status/1520085631556280320
https://twitter.com/TalkRugbyUnion/status/1519334312386207744
https://twitter.com/yscrugby/status/1519315556498825218
Check out our interview with the Irish Rugby speedster as she looks ahead to #Canada7s and #RWC7s https://t.co/aCb9sKUKWu
— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) April 26, 2022
https://twitter.com/RugbyKino/status/1518500132442066945
Can #France and or #NewZealand bounce back for October's World Cup OR are #England already to far ahead #RWC2021 #rugbyhttps://t.co/6SwlFTUdid
— Sara Orchard (@Sara_Orchard) May 1, 2022
https://twitter.com/TalkRugbyUnion/status/1519968484222021633
https://twitter.com/stella_mills_/status/1519314431842390016
"I originally started in Lucan Community College where Fiona Coghlan was my maths and PE teacher, that’s who pushed me into rugby. I was playing hockey at the time" - Molly Scuffil-McCabe on her path from hockey to 7s to her first Ireland cap.#NothingLikeIt I #TikTokW6N
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) April 27, 2022
Whilst this sounds exciting… the reality of predominately amateur and semi pro women crossing countries to play club #rugby is a financial and welfare nightmare. The #URC structure would have to be completely overhauled https://t.co/ZOwsGMNHd4
— Sara Orchard (@Sara_Orchard) April 26, 2022
Lindsay Peat: 'My heart was breaking for the Ireland players forced to compete in an unfair fight'https://t.co/EGXIiQNKyw
— Independent Sport (@IndoSport) April 25, 2022
Thoughts from this year's @Womens6Nations from @alidonnelly
— Scrumqueens - Women’s Rugby (@ScrumQueens) May 1, 2022
✍️ England's dominance might be hard to watch at times, but it's done the women's game a favour. Their brilliance is forcing everyone else to act. https://t.co/0fPAS03bpT pic.twitter.com/gISneh6BNY
Про те, як триває тренувальний процес у регбісток жіночої збірної Одеси, розповіла тренер збірної Марина Кішмар/https://t.co/2sd9d46NrX pic.twitter.com/WpB4SF7xM1
— Ukraine Rugby (@RugbyUkraine) April 27, 2022
"There is no such thing as a perfect game and I think we have been nowhere near that.
— Scrumqueens - Women’s Rugby (@ScrumQueens) April 26, 2022
"Complacency will kill you and we know that.”
We spoke to England lock Abbie Ward ahead of the decider in France on Saturday. https://t.co/MEAxQHIoFX pic.twitter.com/BKkVosGJ29
Big news from the @Womens6Nations today.
— Nick Heath (@nickheathsport) April 27, 2022
CEO Ben Morel reveals that future scheduling of the women's championship “will be distinct” from the men’s, starting next year.
My piece for @ScrumQueens:https://t.co/Y2Q7E7rrQe pic.twitter.com/GG9yoX3LBK
IRFU set to look at having contracts in place for Ireland women by 2023 6 Nations.
— Sinéad Kissane (@sineadkissane) April 26, 2022
Nothing will be finalised until after new head of women’s performance is appointed (closing date for job was yest).
Hybrid/retainer contracts in review recommendations
https://t.co/Xu0l6xAfeq
Grav is joined by @RyanWorley86, @WorthyHarley and @yscrugby’s Wendy Young to talk rugby players in space, history repeating and rugby’s saviour @ilona_maher https://t.co/L1o2F4XozQ
— Ruck ’n’ Roll (@RnRRugby) May 2, 2022
https://twitter.com/offtheball/status/1520484348226674692
https://twitter.com/BBCSportWales/status/1519009294229852166
From Leicester Forest RFC to @EnglandRugby legend@EmilyScarratt takes us through some of the jerseys that have helped define her career#JerseyTales
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) April 26, 2022
The moment @PortiaWoodman made history
— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) May 1, 2022
200 tries...and counting!#HSBC7s | #Canada7s | @BlackFerns pic.twitter.com/KH9cLIQzpp
https://twitter.com/PhilipaTuttiett/status/1519660664662413312
https://twitter.com/BristolBearsW/status/1518906330605666304
https://twitter.com/offtheball/status/1518683765857423361
Want more from @Womens6Nations? Here’s our final whistle #RugbyUnionWeekly pod after #England’s #GrandSlam win over #France@RachaelBurf12 and I walk the pitch with @AbbieWard93 @SarahLily2468 @sarah_hunter8 and @ScottBemand https://t.co/bP265UoYMh pic.twitter.com/7OBFrWnewl
— Sara Orchard (@Sara_Orchard) May 1, 2022
https://twitter.com/GoodScazRugby/status/1518990155511697409
https://twitter.com/offfieldrugby/status/1517738058560335872