Women’s Rugby News for May 8-14

Welcome to the top women’s rugby news in under 60 seconds for May 8-14. More WXV qualifiers are becoming clear with Brazil playing Colombia on July 5 and 9 and Italy will face Spain on July 22.

Also, the Africa Cup starts this week between South Africa, Cameroon, Kenya, and Madagascar along with the Asia Championships between Japan, Hong Kong, China and Kazakhstan. Winners will be placed in WXV 2 and runners-up in WXV 3.

The IRFU updated us on the steps they’ve taken since the publication of the Women in Rugby Report last December. During the press conference CEO Kevin Potts denied that former Ireland player Cliodhna Moloney has been frozen out of the international picture. Critics of the announcement applauded the “positive steps but there is a growing feeling that more widespread, systemic change is required to get the Irish women’s game out of the hole it currently finds itself in.”

In 7s news, New Zealand won France 7s and were also declared the HSBC 7s Series Champions. Ireland qualified for the 2024 Olympics joining New Zealand, Australia, USA and hosts France. Lastly, we learned the winners of the HSBC 7s Series Awards.

We close out the week with 12 features and 5 media.

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tl;dr: Women’s Rugby in 60 secs for May 8-14 saw more dates become clear for WXV qualification and the Black Ferns won France 7s and the HSBC 7s Series.

60 Second Video Update

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Your #wrugby News in under 60 seconds for May 8-14 saw more dates become clear for WXV qualification and the Black Ferns won France 7s and the HSBC 7s Series. 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

• The Netherlands have replaced Hong Kong China in 15th place after a 19-17 victory in Amsterdam
• Italy vs Spain playoff for WXV 2 is expected to be July 22nd in Parma
• The Africa Cup begins this weekend between South Africa, Cameroon, Kenya and Madagascar; winners will be placed in WXV 2 and runners-up in WXV 3
• Also the Asia Championships are coming, May 23-28 and will be contested between Japan, Hong Kong, China, and Kazakhstan with winners being placed in WXV 2 and runners-up in WXV 3
• The Brazilian Women’s Rugby XV team will have four international matches in the coming months: Americas Rugby Trophy women’s in Brazil in June and qualifier for WXV (the new world league) in Colombia in July
• Fiji Rugby Union has been suspended from World Rugby Council
  • World Rugby have set out a collaborative roadmap to ensure short-term stability, continuity of current programs and protect future preparations for major events, while the wider governance topics are addressed on a long-term basis
• IRFU released an update on their response to the publication of the Women in Rugby Report
  • CEO Kevin Potts also denied that former Ireland player Cliodhna Moloney has been frozen out of the international picture for directing a critical social media comment at the IRFU in 2021

Premier & Club

• Round 4 of the WPL saw wins by Beantown, CO Gray Wolves and a draw between New York and Berkeley
  • The league will certify the standings but our informal calculations have Beantown leading with 15 points, CO is in second with 15 points and Berkeley follows with 13 points
• Allianz Premier returned and Gloucester-Hartpury leads after 15 rounds but is chased by Exeter, Saracens and Bristol
• USA’s D1 saw San Diego win Pacific and the sHARCs won Red River/Frontier which completes the Final Four:
  • HARC vs San Diego Surfers
  • Metropolis Valkyries vs NOVA
• USA D2 saw the Atomic Sisters win Pacific and the Northern Super Regional is this weekend
• Round 2 of South Africa’s Premier Division sees DHL Western Province take the top spot but they are pursued by Bulls Daisies, EP Queens, Cell C Sharks and Border Ladies
• France’s Elite 1 returned for Round 10 and Bordeaux leads with Montpellier, Toulouse and Lons Section Paloise are in the hunt
• Brazil’s BR XV has kicked off and Parana leads the South while Midwest leads the Southeast/Midwest group

7s

International

• New Zealand won France 7s and by making it to the Quarterfinals they also won the HSBC Series Title
  • USA placed second, France third and Japan fourth
• Ireland made history for their country by qualifying for the 2024 Olympics
  • They join New Zealand, Australia, USA and hosts France
• Later that night the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2023 Award winners were announced:
  • Rookie of the Year: Jorja Miller (NZL)
  • Fair Play Award: Canada
  • Gilbert Top Try-Scorer: Maddison Levi (AUS)
  • Try of the Series: Rhona Lloyd (GBR, v France in Hong Kong)
  • DHL Impact Player: Reapi Ulunisau (FIJ)
  • Capgemini #Hotstepper Award: Risi Pouri-Lane (NZL)
  • HSBC Series Dream team was announced and includes Madison Levi, Charlotte Caslick, Michaela Blyde, Stacy Waaka, Tyler Nathan-Wong, Ilona Maher, and Sarah Hirini

Women’s Rugby Features

• Shannon Parry leaves gold jersey in better place as she calls time on her playing career
• 10 years on: The tragedy behind Ontario’s Rowan’s Law Day
• Rúaidhrí O’Connor: Plenty of will but no guarantee the IRFU can lift the women’s game off rock bottom
• Team spirit can be more of a hindrance than a help when it comes to reporting concussion in women’s rugby
• SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: The RFU have made a glaring mistake not to appoint a female coach for the England women’s team… I wish Sarah Hunter and Lou Meadows could have been in a position to turn down their roles in John Mitchell’s set-up
• Nepal, Qatar and Turkey become full members of World Rugby
• Ireland women sevens beat Fiji to qualify for Olympics
• Vodafone Fiji Ltd has jumped on board with the Fiji Rugby Union for a $3.1 million sponsorship of the Fijiana 15s team
• Japan granted additional seat on World Rugby Council
• Central Washington University’s Mae Sagapolu Wins 2023 MA Sorensen Award
• Joy Neville: Irish referee will be first female official at a men’s World Cup
• Educate, Agitate, OrganizeTom Hudson, Rochelle ‘Rocky’ Clark and Luke Stratford to join Leicester Tigers

Women’s Rugby Media

• Watch the final day of France 7s highlights along with Day 1 and 2
• Ireland’s Katie Fitzhenry, Ed Slattery, Niamh Briggs and rising star Emma Tilly chat about the new Women’s  National Talent Squad Pathway staff
• Marlie Packer revealed that she is staying with the Saracens on The Huddle
• O2 Inside Line takes us behind the scenes as England prepared for a Grand Slam decider in front of a world record crowd
• Wendy was on Sacrifice Training Sauce Twins talking about how she became a MLR Broadcaster, microaggressions towards females and why women’s sport is on the rise