Wales, England, France Triumph in Six Nations Opener, USA and Canada Victorious in Four Nations | WRR 097

Welcome to the top women’s rugby news in under 60 seconds for Mar 20-26. Round 1 of the Six Nations saw wins for Wales, England and France while in the Four Nations, USA defeated Spain and Canada beat South Africa. 

In more XVs news, the Six Nations U18 Festival will be April 7-15, Welsh Rugby Clubs voted for sweeping governance changes and sources from Spain indicate that they won’t be in World Rugby’s new WX3 but rather they will participate in a playoff against the 5th place Six Nations team for a spot in WX2.

In domestic XVs news, Matatu defeated Chiefs Manawa to win Super Rugby Aupiki, Queensland, Fijiana Drua and the Waratahs won their opening matches in Australia’s Super W, Brazil’s Paulista XVs Championship will host their Grand Finale on April 1 between Band USP and Jacareí. Also in Brazil, the Brazilian Championships of Regional Teams, collectively known as BRXV announced updated dates with competition to begin May 13 and there are no lead changes in the Energia Cup Series or with USA Club D1 or D2.

We close out the week with 15 features and 12 media.

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tl;dr: Women’s Rugby in 60 secs for Mar 20-26  saw wins for Wales, England and France in Round 1 of the Six Nations while in the Four Nations, USA defeated Spain and Canada beat South Africa.

60 Second Video Update

@yscrugby

Your wrugby News in under 60 seconds for Mar 20-26 saw wins for Wales, England and France in Round 1 of the Six Nations while in the Four Nations, USA defeated Spain and Canada beat South Africa. Watch our video & read the entire update using the link in our bio! womensrugby wrugby rugbyunion rugbytok

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Top Women’s Rugby Stories

XVs

International

• Wales climbed the World Rugby Women’s Rankings as they moved up to eight and Ireland dropped to ninth
• The opening weekend of the TikTok Six Nations saw Wales defeat Ireland 31-5, England romp Scotland 58-7 and hosts Italy couldn’t conquer France as they won 22-12
  • England leads the standings based on point differential, Wales is in second, France in third, Italy in fourth, Ireland are in fifth and Scotland is in sixth
• Canada easily handled South Africa beating them 66-7
• USA outlasted Spain with a number of debutantes 20-14
• Six Nations Under-18 Women’s Festival returns for its second year taking place April 7-15 at Wellington College, England
• Welsh rugby clubs have voted in favor of major governance changes to the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) board; Changes include:
  • Five of the 12 WRU Board Members should be women
  • The Chief Executive or Chair should be female
  • Board representation focused on representing women’s and girls’ rugby
• Sources from Spain are saying that there will be a playoff for a place in WX2 between the 5th place Six Nations and Spain (instead of Spain being in WX3)

Domestic

• Matatu defeated the Chiefs Manawa 33-31 to win the second Super Rugby Aupiki
  • Hurricans Poua took third after beating the Blues 29-24
• Queensland, Fijiana Drua and NSW Waratahs won in the opening weekend of Australia’s Super W
• Brazil’s newly formed Paulista XVs Championship made up of five teams completed their second stage; the Grand Finale will be April 1 between Band USP and Jacareí
• Also in Brazil, the Brazilian Championships of Regional Teams, collectively known as BRXV announced updated dates with competition to begin May 13
• The Allianz Premier Cup Fixtures have been confirmed for April 22 and 23 while Round 7 of the Prem returns April 29 and 30
• Railway Union and UL Bohemian have continued their undefeated streaks in the Energia Cup Series and lead with 35 and 30 points respectively; 2 rounds remain where the leaders will play April 1
• No changes in USA Club Women’s D1 or D2 leaders even though most teams were active

7s

• Madrid will host the Grand Final of the reimagined World Rugby Sevens Series for three years from the 2023-24 season
• Most teams have announced their sides for Hong Kong 7s which takes place March 31 – April 2

Women’s Rugby Features

• Glimpses of attacking play, debutantes and impact of bench has left Scotland camp positive ahead of Wales match
• After five weeks of competition, it all came down to the last play of the final game to determine the winner of the second edition of Super Rugby Aupiki
• Maggie Alphonsi, rugby pundit and pioneer discusses another run for the RFU presidency and England’s ‘Federer-Nadal’ duo at the Women’s Six Nations
• Four years on from her last Irish cap, Deirbhile Nic A Bháird says she’s found her love of rugby again, after taking a ‘sos beag’ from the game last year
• Following the recent WISH residential week in England, World Rugby spoke to the former Spain international María Ribera about her hopes for the program and her coaching career
• Caity Mattinson Interview: ‘It has changed my life for the better. I’m so proud to be involved with Scotland’
• Fiji-born Tanya Kalounivale played an instrumental role in helping the Chiefs Manawa book a spot in the final of Super Rugby Aupiki competition
• Wales forward Georgia Evans says she cannot wait to begin the 2023 Women’s Six Nations campaign having recovered from a serious arm injury in 2022
• “Whirlwind” 12 months has set Elliann Clarke up for a big 2023
• Ali Donnelly reflects on the opening round of the women’s Six Nations
• Springbok Women interim coach Louis Koen said the 10 tries to one defeat to Canada in Madrid on Saturday was a reality check for his side, but that they are more determined than ever to close the gap on the top sides of the world
• Six Nations debutante Dannah O’Brien shares her rapid rise through Irish rugby
• Gaëlle Mignot may not see herself as a trailblazer but that does not mean the France coach is not
• The hat-trick hero of the Black Ferns’ 2017 World Cup win, Toka Natua is back in rugby – discovering the pros and cons of playing as a mum
• Megan Gaffney looks back on her international career and ahead to a bright future off the pitch

Women’s Rugby Media

• The Good, The Scaz and The Rugby picked their stand-out performers from Round 1 of the Six Nations
• Sarah Hunter’s post-match interview is a must watch
• The latest episode of The Open Side sees Red Roses’ Abbie Ward talk about her preparations for motherhood following the Rugby World Cup
• BBC World Service’s Laura Jones talked with Nathalie Amiel, a former French rugby star about finishing her career winning the first ever women’s Six Nations Championship
• NBC4 Sports highlighted Howard University rugby and how rugby is on the rise
• Women’s Rugby Pod episode 141 covers the Six Nations
• Rewatch the Four Nations matches from Ferugby.tv
• The Left Wing covers the Irish loss to Wales with Anna Caplice and Ali Donnelly
• BBC Wales goes behind the scenes with Wales Rugby
• The story of THAT Rugby World Cup final (2021 Rugby World Cup)
• Interview with Caity Mattinson on the BBC Sport website, talking about the difference that having contracts is making to the players
• Head coach Ioan Cunningham says Kate Williams’ decision to leave her family and friends in New Zealand to pursue a career with Wales is ‘inspiring’.