Women’s Rugby Rundown for Apr 8-14

Women’s Rugby Rundown News

XVs

International

• Spain beat Sweden 53-0 winning their 7th European Championship and qualified for the WXV [link]
  • Spain will participate in a WXV play-off against the sixth-ranked team from the Guinness Women’s Six Nations, the winner will compete in WXV 2 in South Africa and the loser in WXV 3 in Dubai
• Round 3 of the W6N saw wins by England, Ireland and France; England leads with a perfect 15 points [link]
  • Scotland 0 England 46
  • Ireland 36 Wales 5
  • France 38 Italy 15
• Canada and USA have announced their traveling rosters for the upcoming Pacific Four Series, the first match is April 28 in Los Angeles, CA
  • Canada
  • USA
• The 2024 Africa Cup is May 4-12 in Antananarivo, Madagascar with teams from South Africa, Madagascar, Cameroon and Kenya; the winner will qualify for the WXV and has a shot at qualifying for the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup [link]
  • There was hope that there would be a Division 3 and Division 3 that would include more African teams but no answer on Twitter yet? [link]
• Kenya is adding two women’s teams to their Super Series beginning in May 2024 who will be part of the National Lionesses squad, competing as Eagles & Jaguars; matches will be held in in Kakamega and Nairobi, with winners determined by aggregate scores over two games [link]

Premier & Club

• The Blues are Super Rugby Aupiki champions for the first time after an improbable, herculean 24-18 victory over Chiefs Manawa at Eden Park [link]
• Heidelberger won Germany’s Bundesliga A by beating Neuenheim 17-0 [link]
• The Super W semifinals are set with Fijian Drua hosting Western Force and NSW Waratahs hosting ACT Brumbies this weekend [link]
• The Black Pearls remain undefeated and at the top of the standings in the Uganda Nile Special Premiership League after 10 rounds [link]
  • Emily Lekuru of the Black Pearls has scored 42 tries and with four matches left, the sky is the limit! [link]
• South Africa’s Premier division kicked off with wins by Bulls Daisies, DHL Western Province, Sanlam Boland Dames and Golden Lions [link]
• Brasil’s XV competition also started last weekend with wins by Sao Paulo Capital and Centro-Oeste [link]
• Saracens and Bristol Bears both booked their places in the Allianz Cup final on April 28 [link]
  • SFs
    • Bristol 54 Gloucester-Hartpury 28
    • Saracens 36 Exeter 29
  • 5th/6th
    • Sales 12 Loughborough 22
  • 7th/8th
    • Leicester 19 Harlequins 33
• Galwegians and Wicklow both closed out their Energia AIL campaigns in winning fashion, while the two Women’s Division finalists, UL Bohemian and Railway Union, posted final round victories over top four rivals [link]
  • UL Bohemian and Railway will face off in the Energia AIL Finals on 4/28 at Aviva Stadium [link]
• Two matches occurred in the Welsh Premiership where Seven Sisters defeated reining champions Pontyclun to climb atop the standings [link]
• Vancouver continues to lead the BC Premier with 25 points, Westhore, Capilano, Castaway and Seattle follow [link]
• The Blue Babes continues to lead the Netherlands Honor division with 33 points [link]
• USA’s WPL begins on April 28 with 7 teams with league matches going through late August [link]
• New Professional American Women’s Rugby League Announces Formation Women’s Elite Rugby (WER) slated to play inaugural season in 2025 [link]

Women’s Rugby Rundown Features

• The women who saved the 1994 Rugby World Cup [link]
• Learn more about France’s Assia Khalfaoui who is 23 and has 20 caps to her name [link]
• Wales need to look ‘deeper’ after sobering Ireland defeat [link]
• Belgium confirmed that they are on target to return to the European Championship next year [link]
• Natalie Kurtanidze blazing a trail for female leaders in Georgia [link]
• Lizzie Duffy Given Fresh Perspective Ahead of Sharks Comeback [link]
• England attack has unleashed Ellie Kildunne but Scotland sniff an upset [link]
• England lock Abbie Ward felt ‘judged’ on return after giving birth [link]
• From playing in front of a few hundred to a sold out crowd at Hive, Chloe Rollie insists it’s all been down to hard work [link]
• After nine years and a wretched run of injuries, Sydney Gregson has at last made her Red Roses return [link]
• Defence, discipline, and accuracy: France’s Six Nations campaign so far in numbers [link]
• Sara Cox Interview: ‘I don’t see myself as a trailblazer – It is more about me doing the best job I can’ [link]
• Nadine Roos’ verdict on the latest South Africa last-place finish [link]

Women’s Rugby Rundown Media

• The Left Wing finally got to talk about an Ireland win and a great performance with guests Anna Caplice and Ali Donnelly [link]
• Philippa Tuttiett talks through how Gabrielle Vernier is one of the smallest players in the W6N and is one of the best tacklers [link]
• Get to know Natsuki Kashiwagi & Hinata Komaki, who are in Perth on exchange from partner club Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix [link]
• Women’s rugby in France is on the up; find out why from Safi N’Diaye as she talks to Manae Feleu about the pioneers of France Women’s team and the development that she has witnessed [link]
• Kathryn Dane has had a long, remarkable road to recovery after suffering a brain hemorrhage at Ireland training 18 months ago [link]
• Squidge looks at the first two rounds of the W6N in a lengthy but amazing review [link]
• Watch the full episode of Hometown Heroes with Helen Nelson [link]
• Ireland number 8 Brittany Hogan speaks powerfully on her experiences overcoming sexual abuse and getting that weight off her shoulders [link]
• USA’s Jaz Gray talks taking silver in Hong Kong, 80 meter dashes, Paris hopes, her teammates, and what does she enjoy most about the game [link]
• Hannah Botts explains her latest creation of Crochet Club to the game on O2 Inside Line Live [link]
• Watch Abbie Ward’s return to rugby just 17 weeks after the birth of her first child on RugbyPass [link]
• Referee Joy Neville reflects on her career ahead of her final test [link]
• Alison Miller gives her take on the long-awaited return of Cliodhna Moloney to the Ireland squad [link]

Rugby Jobs

• Canada is searching for a Director of Events [link]
• Australia is in need of a Pathways Performance Analyst [link]