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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@yscrugby 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
XVs
International
The Dutch swap places with Hong Kong, China after a 19-17 win in Amsterdam on Saturday
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) May 10, 2023
Powered by @Capgemini https://t.co/jN6j7Ky5UW
https://twitter.com/asiarugby/status/1658088908817682432
More #WXV news - the Italy v Spain WXV2 playoff looks like being a single game on 22nd July, probably in Parma.
— Scrumqueens - Women’s Rugby (@ScrumQueens) May 12, 2023
https://twitter.com/yscrugby/status/1657011069355806725
https://twitter.com/brasilrugby/status/1656672432848257033
Roadmap approved to restore governance in the Fiji Rugby Union
— World Rugby Media (@worldrugbymedia) May 12, 2023
➖Rodmap centres on 3 impactful pillars
➖Suspension of FRU from WR Council, not membership
➖National teams insulated, including men's and women's 15s and Sevens https://t.co/8nFVroJOYj
https://twitter.com/yscrugby/status/1657007439156334596
"The IRFU accepts responsibility for the challenges in Irish women’s rugby, and will continually assess and re-assess how we can improve. Our committment is unwavering"
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) May 10, 2023
Read the full remarks by IRFU Chief Executive Kevin Potts from today's Women In Rugby press conference.
More:… pic.twitter.com/bMcl9RXmH0
Moloney is a clear exclusion for standing up for the women. The IRFU refuse to even speak to her club.
— IrishWomensRugbySupportersClub (@IrishWomens) May 10, 2023
What's more, is the comments on sexism. Mr Potts was apparently approached personally re another individuals inappropriate behaviour. https://t.co/BOZpP4UCtq
XVs
Premier & Club
https://twitter.com/yscrugby/status/1658133839145828357
https://twitter.com/Premier15s/status/1658020169183002625
https://twitter.com/yscrugby/status/1658126203058810880
https://twitter.com/yscrugby/status/1658127714371477509
https://twitter.com/WomenBoks/status/1658034392311250946
https://twitter.com/Elite1Feminine/status/1658149983604944917
7s
International
https://twitter.com/WorldRugby7s/status/1657777386874609665
https://twitter.com/IrishRugby/status/1657651958029615108
https://twitter.com/WorldRugby7s/status/1657036940347154434
https://twitter.com/WorldRugby7s/status/1657829943710040066
https://twitter.com/WorldRugby7s/status/1657822886466400256
Domestic
'Closing one chapter of her life, Parry's impact on the women's game will be felt for years to come as she leaves the jersey in a better place than ever before.' @BrittMitchell11 https://t.co/cB5d2IBIXs
— ESPN Scrum (@espnscrum) May 15, 2023
The father of teenager Rowan Stringer has paid tribute to her 10 years since she died after concealing concussion symptoms so she could play rugby.
— Progressive Rugby (@ProgressiveRug) May 13, 2023
Since 2018, Rowan’s Law Day each September honour’s her memory & raises awareness about concussion safety.https://t.co/Txrsah0nAe pic.twitter.com/DuNcpskMYH
There is no guarantee that the IRFU can lift women's rugby off rock bottom https://t.co/0e59D5jfpX
— Independent Sport (@IndoSport) May 11, 2023
✅ Day trip to Dublin
— Fi Tomas (@fi_tomas_) May 10, 2023
- IRFU chief exec Kevin Potts defends his organisation after Telegraph sexism claims
- Shoots down the suggestion Exeter's Cliodhna Moloney (who's having a belter of a @Premier15s season) is being silenced for her slurry comments https://t.co/ulTFRV0u44
Brain injury often underreported or not disclosed by female rugby players
— Progressive Rugby (@ProgressiveRug) May 9, 2023
Despite higher concussion risks, study of elite players suggests they feel strongly obliged to play through injury because of sense of a united responsibility to promote the game.https://t.co/fdKeUR8L5w pic.twitter.com/ek4hA4ZKpf
The Ireland women sevens team have qualified for Olympics Games following a victory over Fiji in the World Rugby Seven Series.https://t.co/4kZSKBNmO7
— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) May 14, 2023
Welcome Nepal, Qatar and Turkey- full members of World Rugby https://t.co/iynZH4pqJ2 #rugby via @worldrugby
— World Rugby Media (@worldrugbymedia) May 12, 2023
Opinion Piece - Sir Clive Woodward
— Female Coaching Nwk (@FemaleCN) May 10, 2023
"The RFU have made a glaring mistake not to appoint a female coach for the England women's team... I wish Sarah Hunter & Lou Meadows could have been in a position to turn down their roles in John Mitchell's set-up..."https://t.co/Ytvxao2gJO
https://twitter.com/TalkRugbyUnion/status/1656313974655180803
Fijiana 15s team secures $3.1 deal - The Fiji Times - https://t.co/7YGPlSXbmN #GoogleAlerts
— Scrumqueens - Women’s Rugby (@ScrumQueens) May 13, 2023
https://twitter.com/JRFURugby/status/1656802062955597824
https://twitter.com/yscrugby/status/1656373808704507907
Ireland's Joy Neville will become the first female official at a men’s World Cup. England’s Wayne Barnes officiates at a record 5th straight World Cup#RWC2023 https://t.co/ja3YzvAYHX
— Sara Orchard (@Sara_Orchard) May 10, 2023
https://twitter.com/TigersWomens/status/1655973845893775373
2023 #HSBC7s: ✅
— World Rugby 7s (@WorldRugby7s) May 14, 2023
The final day of women's action for the 2023 series had a bit of everything#DHLHighlights | @DHLRugby pic.twitter.com/TPHYgNWxdf
https://twitter.com/WorldRugby7s/status/1657493882286874628
https://twitter.com/WorldRugby7s/status/1657153679181467648
https://twitter.com/SaracensWomen/status/1657087183742803970
Eight full-time Women's National Talent Squad Pathway staff will operate out of five new Women’s Centre of Excellence hubs.
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) May 10, 2023
Here's Katie Fitzhenry, Ed Slattery, Niamh Briggs and rising star Emma Tilly on the new programme.#NothingLikeIt | #IrishRugby pic.twitter.com/YS7nHDLVRi
https://twitter.com/EnglandRugby/status/1656622681805008897
https://twitter.com/yscrugby/status/1655677102690009088