Women’s Rugby Rundown for Mar 25-31

Women’s Rugby Rundown News

XVs

International

• England leads the Guinness Women’s Six Nations standings after two rounds with 10 points, followed by France in second with 9, Italy in third with 5, Scotland in fourth with 4 points, Ireland in fifth with 1 point, and Wales in last place with 1 point
  • Scotland 5 France 15 [link]
  • England 46 Wales 10 [link]
    • Record attendance for a home Red Roses match outside of Twickenham of 19,705
  • Ireland 21 Italy 27 [link]
    • Record attendance of 6,605 at RDS
• In their warm-up match preceding the Pacific Four Series, the USA triumphed over a resilient South Africa side with a scoreline of 38-17 [link]
• Spain defeated Portugal over the weekend 24-0 in the European Championships
  • This positions the Spaniards in second place overall, trailing behind the Netherlands who currently hold the top spot; the upcoming match between the two leaders is scheduled for this weekend on April 6th [link]
• Forward Pass: Critiquing World Rugby’s Flawed ‘Coaching Women and Girls’ Module [link]
• The winners for our USA vs Canada Pacific Four Series match on April 28th in LA have been selected, and a massive thank you goes out to all participants; if luck wasn’t on your side this time, no worries—grab your tickets with code ‘YSC’ for a 10% discount and join us for the action [link]
• The 2024 Pacific Four Series returns on April 28, Australia, Canada, Black Ferns, and USA will fight for WXV spots and either Australia or USA will qualify for the 2025 Rugby World Cup [link]

Premier & Club

• In the Kenya Cup Final slated for April 6, Mwamba is set to clash with first-time finalists Northern Suburbs as they aim to secure their third title [link]
  • Semifinals
    • Mwamba 80 Shamberere 0
    • Rongo 9 Northern Suburbs 29
• UL Bohemian remains undefeated in Round 16 of Ireland’s Energia AIL, widening the gap at the top of the standings as teams vie for a spot in the April Finals [link]
• The Super Rugby Aupiki final, scheduled for April 13 between Chiefs Manawa and the Blues at an undecided venue, is anticipated to potentially take place in either Auckland or Hamilton, with the Blues narrowing the championship gap to just one point after defeating Manawa for the first time [link]
• In Round 3 of Australia’s Super W, the Waratahs maintain their flawless record, leading the pack, while the Fijian Drua moved up to third place following their victory over the Western Force [link]
• The 7th edition of the Iberdrola All Stars match saw the Stars beat the Lionesses 27-15 [link]

Women’s Rugby Rundown Features

• Rhona paints a picture of the future [link]
• ‘I just didn’t feel right, was slow to remember things’ – Sam Monaghan moves past concussion for Six Nations return [link]
• Louise McMillan full of belief as Scotland bid to keep up fine recent run [link]
• David Kelly: Exile Cliodhna Moloney deserves more for what she did [link]
• Jenny Davies made history by becoming the first Welsh international player to officiate for her country at the highest level, while Sarah Toll and Ceri Parry joined her to form an all-female team of three Welsh officials for the first time ever [link]
• Mastering the menstrual cycle: How rugby is learning to use period power to improve performance [link]
• The Welsh school that produced Wales captains Hannah Jones and Jac Morgan [link]
• Alex Matthews interview: Rugby’s my distraction from Dad’s cancer diagnosis [link]
• “It’s not just about me” – Moana Leilua keen to inspire Pasifika leaders [link]
• The stage is set for the premiere of “The Story of the 1994 Rugby World Cup,” a captivating new play scheduled to take place at Edinburgh’s Traverse Theatre from April 12th to 14th [link]
• ‘The girls have gotten bigger, stronger, faster’ – Neve Jones seeing benefits of full-time contracts [link]
• In her first Six Nations column, Sadia Kabeya reflects on her journey back from injury and gives an insight into Red Roses camp under new head coach John Mitchell [link]
• “The backline is coming along really well and will keep evolving,” says Coreen Grant [link]
• Oceania Women in Rugby Network Forum showcases “power of the collective” [link]
• USWRF True Story Series: 1994 Women’s Rugby World Cup Team [link]
• Jodie Ounsley: Breaking barriers and championing deaf athletes in rugby [link]
• Five Irish players involved in concussion lawsuit set to appear before the UK’s High Court [link]
• “I just want to keep being part of this journey with these amazing team mates and friends,” says Elis Martin [link]
• Breaking Barriers: In 1985, Argetina’s first women’s rugby match challenged stereotypes and sparked controversy. Despite their passion, these pioneering women faced ridicule and opposition, leading to a ban on women’s rugby for 15 years [link]
• ‘More we drank, more we thought it was the best idea ever’: The World Cup organised in 90 days [link]
• New Zealand journalist and content creator, Alice Soper, has her first column for ScrumQueens, reflecting on a decade of progress but on a world where so much more can be done to help the women’s game in New Zealand to shine and stand out on its own merits [link]
• Scotland’s women show the men how it’s done [link]
• Managing children in elite women’s rugby: the precedent Agathe Sochat [link]

Women’s Rugby Rundown Media

• Watch the highlights from Scotland and France in W6N Round 2 [link]
• Watch the highlights from England and Wales in W6N Round 2 [link]
• While at HSCB SVNS LAX we had the chance to chat with World Rugby’s Sall Horrox and USA’s new Head Coach Sione Fukofuka about the upcoming Pacific Four Series, WXV qualification and the 2025 Rugby World Cup:
  • Sally Horrox [link]
  • Sione Fukofuka [link]
• Jessica Watkins, a former USA Eagle, provided motivational encouragement to the USA 7s squad as they prepare to depart for the HSBC SVNS HKG tournament [link]
• Referee Sara Cox on preparations for the Women’s Six Nations [link]
• Swapping the rugby pitch for the stylist’s chair, GB 7s
  stars Emma Uren and Kaleem Barreto share some surprising truths in the latest episode of A Cut Above [link]
• Once Emily Scarratt caught the rugby bug, she was hooked [link]
• In the second episode of “The Game Changer,” Ella Cromack shares her journey from the boys’ section at Newbury RFC to her first Red Roses camp, culminating in her long-term commitment to Harlequins [link]
• A proud moment for the Hesketh family last weekend [link]
• Lucy Packer explains how she had to jump on a flight from Sweden when she received her first England call up and how surreal that moment was [link]
• Northern Suburbs’ Elizabeth AKA Msito AKA Eshiombo sharing her rugby journey and how Collins Injera influenced her career [link]
• New Zealand commentator Melodie Robinson’s path has been an inspirational one [link]
• 24-hour turn around for Noelani Baselala [link]

Rugby Jobs

• Head of Communications & Marketing at Ealing Trailfinders [link]
• Lead Therapist & Clinical Manager for Bristol Bears [link]