Final Squads Announced for RWC 2021 & Black Ferns, Canada Victorious | WRR 080

Welcome to the top women’s rugby news in under 60 seconds for Sep 19-25. We learned the last squads ahead of the 2021 Rugby World Cup with announcements from South Africa, Italy, Wales and England. Also, the Black Ferns beat Japan 95-12 while Canada defeated Fiji 24-7. 

This closes out all of the warmup matches and the RWC begins October 7 with South Africa versus France, Fiji versus England and the headliner is Australia vs New Zealand. We’re hearing that you can watch matches in the USA on Peacock but we’re still awaiting confirmation. We’ll be watching when possible…as others have noted the viewing times are horrific! We will also be on the ground for a week and a half starting October 20th!

In domestic XVs news, Majadahonda became the first Iberdrola Super Cup Champion after defeating the Crocodiles 36-12, Nelson leads the Welsh Admiral Premiership, Old Belvedere is on top of Ireland’s Energia AIL, Stirling County remains on top of Scotland’s Tennent’s Premiership and Worcester leads the Allianz Cup.

We close out the week with 27 features and 9 media.

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tl;dr: Your Women’s Rugby in 60 secs for Sep 19-25 saw the last RWC squad announcements from South Africa, Italy, Wales and England while the Black Ferns beat Japan 95-12 and Canada defeated Fiji 24-7.

60 Second Video Update

Featured Women’s Rugby Stories

Teams are en route to New Zealand for the 2021 Rugby World Cup and we’re loving all the travel photos! Check out players getting their caps, wearing their #1s and more.

We also have the last squads for the RWC from South Africa, Italy, Wales and England.

South Africa

Nolusindiso Booi captains the side and returns for her third RWC, alongside Zenay Jordaan, who also played in the 2010 and 2014 tournaments. Tayla Kinsey and Asithandile Ntoyanto will play in their second tournaments, having represented South Africa in the 2014 showpiece in England.

Italy

Elisa Giordano has been named captain after Manuela Furlan was injured in a warmup match against France. Furlan has received a clean bill from their medical staff and will travel to the event. Other standouts include vice captains Melissa Betton and Michelle Sillari,  and Sara Barattin who has 107 caps and was the captain of 2017 RWC.

Wales

Siwan Lillicrap leads her side as captain with Hannah Jones named as vice-captain. Three players – Sioned Harries, Elinor Snowsill and Caryl Thomas – are set to participate in their fourth world cups.

All players participate in the Allianz Premier and do not play in Wales.

England

Sarah Hunter captains her squad along with six players who were part of the 2014 World Cup winning squad. 19 members could end up making their debut throughout the tournament.

Top Women’s Rugby Stories

XVs

International

• Black Ferns played Japan for the first time and beat them soundly 95-12
• Fiji had their first home test match but lost to Canada 24-7

Domestic

• CR Majadahonda has become the first Iberdrola Super Cup Champion after defeating Cocodrilas 36-12
• Nelson leads the Welsh Admiral Premiership but is pursued by Llandaff and Pontyclun
• Old Belvedere is on top of Ireland’s Energia AIL but is chased by Galwegians, Railway Union and Blackrock
• Stirling County holds a two point lead over Watsonian and four over Heriot’s Blues and Cartha Queens Park in Scotland’s Tennent’s Premiership
• Worcester may have owner problems but they are leading the Allianz Cup with Exeter and Gloucester-Hartpury trying to catch up

Women’s Rugby Features

• The story of the first women’s Rugby World Cup: Liquor-selling Soviets and a winning Welshman
• Jenilee Limada describes herself as a “laid-back leader” but says the WISH Women in High Performance Pathway programme is helping her to have difficult conversations
• England women to fly to World Cup in New Zealand on Emirates economy – not official flight partner British Airways
• Ada Milby, Nahid Biyarjomandi, Karina Soerjanatamihardja and Gorata Kgathi led by example as the Malaysia Rugby Union hosted a World Rugby ACTIVATE and Training and Education Superweek
• The 1994 Rugby World Cup was initially due to be played in the Netherlands, but with just weeks to go, there was a change of plan
• Watsonian’s Charlotte Harris chats about rugby and life in the Tennent’s Premiership
• England’s Laura Keates determined to make up for lost time at Rugby World Cup
• England’s Louis Deacon was speaking as a coach on Tuesday afternoon, but he knows just how it feels to be a player when World Cup squad selection is the only thing running through your mind
• Gauteng Women Rugby Institute faces closure over lack of funds
• Queens of Rugby Union – former Black Fern
  captain Fiao’o Fa’amausil is featured by Coconet TV
• Suzanne McFadden talks about putting women’s rugby on the world stage
• Amy Turner takes the Harlequins into a new era
• New Zealand’s Maggie Cogger-Orr set to officiate opening game of Rugby World Cup 2021
• USA’s Kate Zachary tells of how her team has built towards the Rugby World Cup and their hopes
• England’s Shaunagh Brown shares why she thought World Cup selection seemed unlikely
• Former Southern Humboldt resident, Evelyn Ashenbrucker has earned a spot on Team USA for the Rugby World Cup
• Rugby World Cup 2021 has today launched a movement to unite rugby fans to twirl poi in support of the wāhine toa who will be competing during the tournament
• Libbie Janse van Rensburg is out to inspire Bok Women to RWC glory
• ‘I didn’t know I could play rugby’: How an email set Em Chancellor on a path to the World Cup
• Canada ready for World Cup after win over Fiji
• Accidental coach Katie Fitzhenry relishing opportunity provided by WISH programme
• England’s Leanne Infante embracing leading role
• Wales Women will not fly business class to World Cup as WRU aims to address inequalities
• Scotland’s Helen Nelson shares her rugby journey
• For Maëlle Filopon, rugby has always been a religion, but one key moment confirmed the centre belonged in the rugby family
• World Rugby refuses to review trans player ban despite risk of legal action
• Damian Hopley: Star players must have more of a say in the game

Women’s Rugby Media

• MLR Weekly talks with Naya Tapper along with a few other guests
• Lynne Cantwell, Women’s High-Performance Manager for South African Rugby speaks to TritonLake Perform on how to create the optimal high-performance environment
• From changing how people view women’s rugby, to qualifying for #RWC2021. The Fijiana are on an historic journey
• Grassroots Pod kicks off Season 2 with a bang!
• Jess Hayden is on Times Sport talking About the Red Roses World Cup squad, controversial calls and promotion guidelines
• USA Rugby Women’s Head Coach, Rob Cain, Captain Kate Zachary, YSCRugby’s Wendy Young joined us to talk #RWC2021, USA Squad, Premier 15s, WPL Rugby and more
• Go behind the scenes as the World Cup match official squad put their physical and technical skills to the test ahead of #RWC2021
• New #RugbyUnionWeekly pod is out and they’re talking all things RWC
• Wing Lowri Norkett says she hopes her late sister Elli would be proud of her after being named in Wales’ squad for the World Cup in New Zealand