Welcome to the Women’s Rugby Rundown for Mar 4-10. China clinched their second consecutive Cup Challenger Series title, the USA revealed the location of their Pacific Four Series match against Canada, Italy renewed centralized contracts, Colombia will face Cisneros before their critical match against the Netherlands, Brazil officially announced their match against Colombia, World Rugby extended the Gallagher High Performance Academy, and we also provide a global overview of Premier and Club competitions worldwide!
In 7s news, China secured their second consecutive Cup Challenger Series title with a 38-7 victory over Argentina, maintaining a perfect record of 40 points from 40. Argentina placed second, with Belgium in third, Uganda in fourth, and Poland in fifth. In the overall standings after two events, China leads, followed by Argentina, Belgium, and Uganda. The third and final leg of the Challenger Series is set for Krakow, Poland on May 18-19, where the top four teams will qualify for a new promotion and relegation play-off competition at the HSBC SVNS 2024 Grand Final in Madrid on May 31-June 2.
In XVs news, USA has announced their upcoming match against Canada as the first game of the Pacific Four Series in Los Angeles, CA, scheduled to take place at Dignity Health Sports Park on April 28. This marks the highly anticipated homecoming of the USA Women’s Eagles, ending a two-year absence from domestic soil.
Italy renewed their centralized contracts for 24 athletes, marking a 10% increase in financial commitment. This strategic initiative involves transitioning select athletes from the scholarship project to full-time contracts, concurrently expanding the athlete pool in preparation for the Guinness Six Nations.
France, Wales and England revealed their Guinness Women’s Six Nations squads ahead of the tournament starting on March 23. France has confirmed Manae Feleu as the team captain and Rose Bernadou is also back in action, joining the squad for the tournament. In Wales, Hannah Jones takes on the captaincy, with experienced second rows Natalia John and Gwen Crabb returning after missing WXV1 due to injuries. Shona Wakley, who made her Wales debut in 2010, is making a comeback, aiming to add to her impressive 45 caps for the country. Over in England, Marlie Packer continues her role as captain, with the Saracens flanker set to achieve 100 Test caps in the upcoming matches. The Red Roses welcome back Zoe Harrison, Emily Scarratt, and Abbie Ward, marking the first time all three have featured in a tournament squad since the 2022 Rugby World Cup final.
Colombia has announced they will face Cisneros from Spain on March 9, a crucial part of their preparation leading up to the decisive match against the Netherlands for a spot in WXV 2 or 3, scheduled for March 16.
In a historic event, South America will have their first chance to officially secure a direct spot in the 2025 Rugby World Cup. To determine this spot, Brazil will play Colombia on June 29 in Paraguay, marking a significant moment in the regional rivalry.
Rugby Americas North announced that the Women’s XVs Championship is set to unfold in Mexico City from July 10-14, with live global broadcast details soon to be disclosed. Over its history, this tournament has featured the participation of six nations, including Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, Guyana, Barbados, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
World Rugby, in partnership with Gallagher, has extended the Gallagher High Performance Academy, a global initiative for elite female coaches, aimed at boosting their presence and high-performance roles in women’s rugby. Launched in 2023, the program contributes to World Rugby’s strategy for advancing women’s rugby, enhancing competitiveness leading up to the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup. The academy focuses on talent identification, professional support, and the development of both existing and new coaching talent. Following its success, the program has expanded to cover all formats of the women’s game. In 2024, ten new coaches joined the academy, emphasizing its ongoing commitment to cultivating female coaching leadership in elite women’s rugby.
The Nina Project, led by the Brazilian Rugby Confederation, has kicked off six initiatives in March 2024 aimed at advancing women’s rugby development. These include festivals, a national camp, ongoing coaching and mentoring programs, high-yield stages, and participation in the Brazilian Youth Rugby Sevens Championship, aligning with the Brazilian Olympic Committee’s Women’s Sports Development Program.
In Premier & Club news, Natixis Ice secured Hong Kong’s Nan Fung | SEWIT Group Premiership League trophy with a dominant 60-7 victory over Causeway Bay Phoenix.
In a closely contested match, UL Bohemian secured a narrow 17-15 victory over Blackrock College, preserving their unblemished record. Following closely in the standings are Railway Union, Old Belvedere, and Blackrock. Additionally, the IRFU unveiled intentions to host a groundbreaking Women’s and Men’s double-header Championship on April 28. The final is scheduled to take place at Aviva Stadium and will be streamed live on TG4.
Gloucester-Hartpury secured a home semi-final in Allianz PWR after Round 14, while Saracens, Exeter, and Bristol vie for the remaining spots. Sale marked a historic moment with their inaugural match at Salford Community Stadium.
Regrettably, BC Rugby’s website has not been updated with information on fixtures beyond the 8th round; however, there are indications of semifinals on April 27 and finals on May 4. Meanwhile, Seattle has several matches posted on their schedule, starting on March 23.
In Sky Super Rugby Aupiki, Chiefs Manawa secured a victory against Blues, placing them at the top with 9 points. Additionally, Hurricanes Poua clarified the meaning behind the Poua haka performed before their match against Matatū on Saturday. The clarification process involved Hurricanes management, supported by New Zealand Rugby Kaihautu (Chief Advisor Māori) Luke Crawford and the New Zealand Rugby Players Association, engaging in discussions with the Poua leadership group on Thursday. The aim was to ensure that any words used in the haka were respectful, authentic, and appropriate, setting a positive tone for future performances.
Mwamba continues to lead the Nairobi Conference in the Kenya Cup, and Shamberere leads the Western Conference after 4 rounds. A ruling found Impala played an ineligible player, resulting in their move down to third place in the standings.
Maintaining an undefeated record, the Black Pearls lead the table in Uganda’s Nile Special Rugby Premiership League after six rounds.
This week, we’re adding coverage of the Netherlands Premiership, where CL Blue Babes lead after 5 rounds with 24 points and an undefeated record. Regular league matches will continue until May and we anticipate info about semifinal and Finals will be announced in due course.
The 2024 Buildcorp Super Rugby Women’s season commences on March 15, featuring the defending champions, Fijiana Drua, in pursuit of a remarkable third consecutive title. This kickoff aligns with the confirmation that Buildcorp has extended its commitment to Australian Rugby, maintaining its role as the naming rights partner for the Super W competition. Their steadfast partnership, dating back to the inaugural season in 2018, underscores the enduring support for women’s rugby in Australia.
After the start of Sky Super Rugby Aupiki, New Zealand Rugby (NZR) eagerly unveiled the draw for the Farah Palmer Cup (FPC) presented by Bunnings Warehouse. The highly anticipated women’s provincial rugby competition is scheduled to begin on August 9, at Eden Park. The opening match features a clash between reigning champions Auckland and Northland, newly promoted to the division following their triumphant 2023 Championship campaign.
tl;dr: In the Women’s Rugby Rundown for Mar 4-10, China clinched their second consecutive Challenger Series title, the USA disclosed the location of their Pacific Four Series match, Italy renewed contracts, Colombia prepares for a crucial face-off against the Netherlands, Brazil officially announced their match against Colombia, World Rugby extended the Gallagher High Performance Academy, and we also provide a global overview of Premier and Club competitions.
Women’s Rugby Rundown Video Update
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@yscrugby In the Women’s Rugby Rundown for Mar 4-10, China clinched their second consecutive Challenger Series title, the USA disclosed the location of their Pacific Four Series match, Italy renewed contracts, Colombia prepares for a crucial face-off against the Netherlands, Brazil officially announced their match against Colombia, World Rugby extended the Gallagher High Performance Academy, and we also provide a global overview of Premier and Club competitions. Watch our video & read all the news using the link in our bio! Never miss one of our episodes! Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Music, Youtube or Patreon and be sure to follow us on all your favorite social media platforms. #womensrugbyrundown #WRR #rugby #womensrugby #wrugby ♬ original sound – YSCRugby
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Women’s Rugby Rundown News
7s
International
- China secured their second consecutive women’s Cup Challenger Series title by defeating Argentina 38-7 in the final match, maintaining a flawless record of 40 points from 40 [link]
- Argentina secured the second spot, followed by Belgium in third, Uganda in fourth, and Poland in fifth; in the overall standings after two events, China leads, followed by Argentina in second, Belgium in third, and Uganda in fourth, with Kenya in fifth and Poland in sixth, trailing by 4 and 6 points from the top four, respectively [link]
- The third and final leg of the Challenger Series takes place in Krakow, Poland on May 18-19
- Top four placed teams after three rounds will go to new promotion and relegation play-off competition at the HSBC SVNS 2024 Grand Final in Madrid
- France announced an expanded group of 32 players for the Olympic season [link]
XVs
International
- USA announced their will play Canada in the first match of the Pacific Four Series in Los Angeles, CA at Dignity Health Sports Park on April 28 [link]
- Italy has renewed contracts for 24 athletes, experiencing a 10% increase in financial commitment, transitioning some from the scholarship project to full-time contracts, and expanding the athlete pool in preparation for the upcoming Guinness Six Nations [link]
- The remaining teams have announced their 6 Nations training squads:
- Colombia revealed their plan to face Cisneros from Spain on March 9 as part of their preparation leading up to the crucial match against the Netherlands for a spot in WXV 2 or 3, scheduled for March 16 [link]
- Brazil has officially announced that they will play Colombia on June 29 for the South American spot in the 2025 Rugby World Cup [link]
- Rugby Americas North announced their Women’s XVs Championship will be in Mexico City on July 10-14 [link]
- World Rugby announces Gallagher High Performance Academy extension, accelerating the development of female coaches [link]
- The Nina Project, led by the Brazilian Rugby Confederation, initiates six actions in March 2024 to advance women’s rugby development, including festivals, a national camp, ongoing coaching and mentoring, high-yield stages, and participation in the Brazilian Youth Rugby Sevens Championship, as part of the Brazilian Olympic Committee’s Women’s Sports Development Program [link]
Premier & Club
- Natixis Ice won the Fung Group | SEWIT Women’s Premiership League trophy over the weekend, defeating Causeway Bay Phoenix 60-7 [link]
- Bohemian held on to a narrow 17-15 victory over Blackrock College, maintaining their undefeated record, while Railway Union, Old Belvere, and Blackrock closely trailed in the standing [link]
- The IRFU announced that they will host a first ever Women’s and Men’s double header Championship on April 28 [link]
- Gloucester-Hartpury became the first team to lock in a home semi-final after Round 14 of Allianz PWR while Saracens, Exeter, and Bristol contend for the remaining slots [link]
- Sale marked a historic moment on Saturday with their inaugural match at Salford Community Stadium [link]
- Despite BC Rugby’s website lacking updates on upcoming fixtures beyond 8 rounds, information suggests that the semifinals are set for April 27 and the finals for May 4; meanwhile, Seattle has several matches scheduled, beginning on March 23 [link]
- Round 2 of Sky Super Rugby Aupiki saw Chiefs Manawa emerge victorious against Blues, while Hurricanes Poua secured a win over Matatū; this places Chiefs Manawa at the top of the standings with 9 points [link]
- Hurricanes Poua clarified the meaning behind the Poua haka performed [link]
- Mwamba continues to lead the Nairobi Conference in the Kenya Cup and Shamberere also leads the Western Conference after 4 rounds [link]
- It was determined that Impala played an ineligible player and the sanction moved them down to third place in the standings [link]
- Maintaining an undefeated record, the Black Pearls lead the table in the Nile Special Rugby Premiership League after six rounds [link]
- We’re adding coverage of the Netherlands Premiership this week, the CL Blue Babes lead after 5 rounds with 24 points and an undefeated record [link]
- The 2024 Buildcorp Super Rugby Women’s season is set to commence on March 15, with Fijian Drua, aiming for a historic three-peat, standing as back-to-back champions. [link]
- The draw for the 2024 Farah Palmer Cup, presented by Bunnings Warehouse, has been officially confirmed, and the action is set to begin on August 9 with a Premiership clash featuring defending champions Auckland and newly promoted Northland, who earned their spot in the division following their 2023 Championship success [link]
- European leagues are taking a break from their domestic competitions as the Six Nations will begin on March 23 [link]:
- Elite 1 in France is set to resume on May 12, with Bordeaux currently leading in Pool 1 and Toulouse leading in Pool 2 [link]
- Serie A Elite in Italy is scheduled to resume play on May 19, with Valsugna leading the Playoff Group, while the Playout Group is set to return on May 5 with Capitalino in the lead [link]
Women’s Rugby Rundown Features
- Alice Soper: Women’s sport has always been political – it’s about time the CEOs embraced it [link]
- Holly Thorpe: It was my focus – I wanted to be back for Sale’s first-ever women’s game at the Salford Community Stadium [link]
- Irene Gardner: We need more female coaches [link]
- History and punishment of the first women’s rugby match in Argentina [link]
- England released a complete database of England test players right back to the first England test in 1987 (in tests recognised as such by the RFU*) [link]
- Lisa Cockburn: ‘The World Cup suddenly became out of reach and that really floored me’ [link]
- Australia’s women’s sevens are Olympic favourites — but high tackles threaten to kill their campaign [link]
- Jess Breach’s build-up to the 2024 Guinness Women’s Six Nations has been far from conventional [link]
Women’s Rugby Rundown Media
- WRP 177 talks PWR, Penina Pasifika, Celtic Challenge and more [link]
- Guinness Women’s Six Nations honored IWD by catching up with six legends of the game to hear what rugby and their teammates meant to them both off and on the field [link]
- From Farm to Pitch: Emma Sing [link]
- Rugby Coach Weekly chatted to Telegraph sports journalist Fi Tomas about where women’s rugby needs to go next [link]
- Pip Hendy: ‘There is no big secret to our success – We’re just being successful at enjoying our rugby’ [link]
- Rugby Journal does a deep dive into Rocky Clark’s rugby career [link]
- Rugby World Cup winner Natasha ‘Mo’ Hunt Joins Age UK South Gloucestershire as charity Ambassador [link]
- Welsh internationals from across the globe announced the 2024 W6N squad [link]
- Jess Bunyard chats with Charlie Roberts about her experience within rugby governance and marketing [link]
Rugby Jobs
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