Welcome to the top women’s rugby news in under 60 seconds for May 15-21. South Africa and Kenya both took steps towards WXV qualification with wins over Cameroon and Madagascar in the Africa Cup. Additionally, Australia demonstrated their strength by limiting Fiji to a mere five points, winning 22-5 in an International friendly.
More WXV qualifiers will take place this week with Africa Cup Division 1 matches scheduled for May 23 and 24 while The Oceania Championships are set to kick off on May 26, followed by the Asia Championships on May 28.
In more XVs news, the USA Club Nationals matchups are set for June 2-4, while in South Africa’s Premier Division DHL Western Province leads, the Saracens secured a semi-final in Allianz Premier, Beantown leads the WPL after five rounds, the Elite 1 semi-finals are this weekend, with the Championship scheduled for June 9 and lastly, Paraná leads the South and the Midwest leads the Southeast/Midwest group in Brazil’s BR XV.
We close out the week with 11 features and 7 media.
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tl;dr: Women’s Rugby in 60 secs for May 15-21 saw South Africa beat Cameroon while Kenya defeated Madagascar in the Africa Cup and Australia beat Fiji in an International friendly.
60 Second Video Update
@yscrugby Your #wrugby News in under 60 seconds for May 15-21 saw South Africa beat Cameroon while Kenya defeated Madagascar in the Africa Cup and Australia beat Fiji in an International friendly. 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
- Kenya outlasted a spirited Madagascar side 29-20 in their first Africa Cup match
- South Africa crushed Cameroon 87-0 in their first Africa Cup match
- Australia held Fiji to only five points as they won 22-5 in an International friendly
- The wins by Kenya and South Africa mean that both countries have taken key steps toward WXV qualification
- More WXV qualifiers will take place this week with Africa Cup Division 1 matches scheduled for May 23 and 24
- The Oceania Championships are set to kick off on May 26
- Then up next is the Asia Championships on May 28 which will be contested by only three countries instead of four as China has dropped out
Premier & Club
- The USA Club D1 and D2 matchups are finally set for Nationals on Jun 2-4 in St. Charles, MO:
- WD1
- HARC vs San Diego Surfers
- Metropolis Valkyries vs NOVA
- WD2
- Knoxville vs Atomic Sisters
- Milwaukee Scylla vs Severn River
- WD1
- The Golden Lions, Border Ladies and Bulls Daises saw wins in Round 2 of South Africa’s Premier Division
- In Allianz Premier, Bristol Bears, Loughborough Lightning, Sale Sharks, Gloucester-Hartpury, and Saracens dominated Round 16 with impressive wins, and the latest team to secure their spot in the end-of-season play-offs is Saracens
- Round 5 of the WPL saw wins by Beantown, New York and Berkeley
- Bordeaux will face Toulouse and ASM Romagnat will see Blagnac in the Elite 1 semi-finals this weekend; the Championship is June 9
- Parana continues to lead the South and Midwest leads the Southeast/Midwest group in Brazil’s BR XV
Women’s Rugby Features
- Wales and Gloucester-Hartpury lock Gwen Crabb said rupturing her anterior cruciate ligament during the Six Nations is the “hardest thing” she has ever been through
- The first four months of 2023 have seen record TV viewing figures for women’s sport in the UK, according to data from the Women’s Sport Trust
- Wales scrum-half Ffion Lewis will play no part in the new WXV tournament this autumn after suffering a serious knee injury
- With China’s withdrawal from the Asia Rugby Women’s Championship (ARWC) 2023, the upcoming tournament in Almaty, Kazakhstan will now solely showcase Japan, Hong Kong China, and the hosts Kazakhstan, as they vie for qualification in the WXV and to determine Asia’s XV women’s champions
- Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion: International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia in Rugby
- Rugby’s Ageless Warrior: Iliseva Batibasaga’s Unforgettable Journey in Women’s Rugby
- Rising Above: The Transformation of Bristol Bears into a Rugby Force
- Philippine Rugby Football Union president Ada Milby looks to clear the way for more women to take seats in their own sports
- Next gen Wallaroos take up rugby mantle in Fiji testWPL Week 4: A Tie, 2-Point Decision & Hometown Debut
- Will NOVA Three-Peat in Division I?
- Celebrating Rugby Moms: Daughters Reflect on Growing Up in the Game
Women’s Rugby Media
- Watch match highlights of South Africa winning over Cameroon
- Getting Up Close with Rugby Star Holly Aitchison: A 7-Minute Interview from Level
- Learn more about the World Rugby Youth Unstoppables
- Captain Audrey Forlani presented Gabrielle Vernier with the TikTok Women’s Six Nations Player of the Championship award, alongside her Blagnac Rugby teammates
- Lilly Peat Captain Audrey Forlani presented Gabrielle Vernier with the TikTok Women’s Six Nations Player of the Championship award, alongside her Blagnac Rugby teammates on Off The Ball
- From black runs to team runs, Helen Nelson’s route into rugby was not your typical one!
- England Rugby stars Oliver Hassell-Collins and Zoe Harrison took a trip to the nail salon to chat about changing stereotypes in rugby, fashion choices, and tattoos
XVs
International
Full time Madagascar 20 - 29 Kenya.
— Koyokoyo (@Helkoybut) May 20, 2023
Well won Kenya. Kenya utilised their strengths well & their defence shut out some very potent Madagascar attacks. Lovely rugby Madagascar but indiscipline made Kenya's work easier. Great crowd; Madagascar should host women's 7s as well. https://t.co/xpYSozn2nI
https://twitter.com/WomenBoks/status/1659926470213378050
https://twitter.com/WallaroosRugby/status/1659852592305029120
https://twitter.com/WorldRugby/status/1660582831985246211
https://twitter.com/oceaniarugby/status/1658019580852285440
Only 3 nations will contest the @asiarugby Women's Championship 2023 after China withdrew.
— RugbyAsia247 (@RugbyAsia247) May 16, 2023
The winner of Kazakhstan vs @HongKongRugby will play @JRFURugby in the final - both finalists will compete in WXV 2023.#WXV #ARWC2023 #RugbyAsia247 #Wrugbyhttps://t.co/QJZI5jwEJx
XVs
Premier & Club
https://twitter.com/yscrugby/status/1660726959863746560
https://twitter.com/WomenBoks/status/1660597539802890240
Round 16 ✅#Premier15s pic.twitter.com/zkwTvK56r3
— Allianz Premier 15s (@Premier15s) May 21, 2023
https://twitter.com/yscrugby/status/1660733253383335937
https://twitter.com/STFeminin/status/1660302905667207168
https://twitter.com/brasilrugby/status/1660662645500854274
https://twitter.com/yscrugby/status/1659650393536700416
https://twitter.com/BBCSportWales/status/1659465160057294849
Women's sport: New data shows record TV viewing figures so far in 2023 https://t.co/kQjjMWkvlT
— Sara Orchard (@Sara_Orchard) May 18, 2023
https://twitter.com/BBCSportWales/status/1658177929577369600
Philippine Rugby Football Union president Ada Milby looking to increase number of women in rugby administration https://t.co/Q9DJsCMOCp via @scmpnews
— Scrumqueens - Women’s Rugby (@ScrumQueens) May 21, 2023
On Monday, I visited @BristolBears’ high performance centre, and haven’t stopped raving about it since
— Claire Thomas (@Claire_GThomas) May 17, 2023
Dave Ward + those players + that facility = something special
Here’s what I wrote on the train home, ahead of a crunch @Premier15s Saturday for Bearshttps://t.co/Ca1EEczycL
Terrific article, worth a read. She has been an important part of Australian rugby, played well for a long time.
— Hugh_96 (@Hugh_96) May 18, 2023
BTW it’s amazing how many players refer to coach John Manenti’s influence, he has been involved in a lot of areas of Oz rugby. https://t.co/YuL0PgIJSa
https://twitter.com/yscrugby/status/1658835010877636611
https://twitter.com/yscrugby/status/1659197428711706631
https://twitter.com/yscrugby/status/1658548135596023822
https://twitter.com/yscrugby/status/1658215937349132316
#ICYMI It was a great Saturday in Antananarivo on Saturday!
— Springbok Women (@WomenBoks) May 21, 2023
Wednesday we go again! @fnbsa#MakeItCount pic.twitter.com/FM2j1ttH3Z
Who makes glossy 7-min interview pieces anymore? We do! Enjoy getting Up Close with @Saracens and @EnglandRugby star @hollyaitchison_.
— Level (@teamlevelco) May 18, 2023
It’s the first of four feature pieces to enjoy as the@Premier15s season comes to a head.https://t.co/rWuqJhMt6h
https://twitter.com/WorldRugby/status/1658170384028696577
https://twitter.com/offtheball/status/1659619937349177344
https://twitter.com/Womens6Nations/status/1659197144207863808
https://twitter.com/GoodScazRugby/status/1659596369038921733
"Stop painting your nails and focus on rugby"@EnglandRugby stars @OHassellcollins and @zoeharrison123 took a trip to the nail salon to chat about changing stereotypes in rugby, fashion choices and tattoos #TheOpenside
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) May 18, 2023