China Wins Sevens Challenger, Canada Makes History and World Cup 2025 Teams Confirmed | WRR 153

Women’s Rugby Rundown News

7s

International

• China dominated hosts Poland 36-0 in the Krakow final to clinch their third World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger 2024 title, joining Argentina, Belgium, and Poland at the HSBC SVNS Play-off [link]
• The pools for the SVNS 2025 Play-off are set at the Grand Final on May 31-Jun 2 [link]:
  • Pool A: Japan, Spain, China, Poland
  • Pool B: Brazil, South Africa, Argentina, Belgium
• France’s Safi N’Diaye was honored to carry the 2024 Paris Olympics Torch as it begins its relay tour on the way to the city center [link]
• PR 7s has announced another Development Camp for players and coaches in Kansas City, KS on July 23-25 [link]

XVs

International

• Canada made history by beating the Black Ferns 22-19 for the first time ever in a thrilling Pacific Four Series weekend [link]
  • Tyson Beukeboom reached 68 caps to become the most capped Canadian women’s rugby player of all-time [link]
  • With that win, Canada retains the Utrecht Shield!
• The USA Eagles secured a 32-25 win against Australia in Melbourne in their final 2024 Pacific Four Series match, moving closer to qualifying for WXV 1 [link]
  • Australia must beat New Zealand with a bonus point next week to clinch WXV 1 qualification, or the USA will take the spot
• The World Rugby Rankings saw a shake-up after the Pacific Four Series matches where Canada move to all-time high to second and USA moved back up to seventh [link]
• We profiled the Utrecht Shield, conceived by New Zealand’s Dave Algie and also known as Rugby’s Lineal World Titles, which adds excitement to women’s rugby by determining the titleholder in each game instead of waiting for the Rugby World Cup [link]
• While World Rugby maintains that some teams haven’t yet qualified for the 2025 Rugby World Cup, we already know that 10 teams have secured their spots, including all teams from WXV 1 and 2, the Spain and Wales playoff winner, the Colombia and Brazil playoff winner, the Asia winner, the Oceania winner, the WXV 3 winner, and the WXV 3 runner-up [link]
• The Guinness Women’s Six Nations made several big announcements this weekend:
  • The Fan’s Team of the Championship 2024 features 9 Red Roses, 2 Irish, 2 French, and 2 Italians [link]
  • England’s Ellie Kildunne was announced as the Guinness Play of the Championship [link]
  • Italy winger Alyssa D’Incà’s stunning try against France has been voted 2024’s Try of the Championship [link]

Premier & Club

• After 3 days of intense action, NOVA takes the Women’s Division 1 title and Tampa Bay Krewe claims the Women’s Division 2 championship at the USA Club XVs Rugby National Championships [link]
  • Utah 12 NOVA 44
  • Phoenixville 14 Tampa 59
• The Black Pearls have won the Uganda Nile Special Rugby Championship for the third year in a row, going undefeated [link]
  • Emily Lekuru set a new record with 69 tries in a single season
• Majadahonda clinched Spain’s Iberdrola title for the second year in a row, adding it to their impressive collection of titles in the Iberdrola League, Super Cup, RFER Cup, and Iberian Cup [link]
• In France’s Elite 1, Bordeaux takes on Blagnac and ASM Romagnat faces Toulouse in the semifinals on May 31 [link]
• In Italy’s Serie A, Villorba’s landslide win and Valsugana’s narrow semifinal victory set up a Final clash on May 25 [link]
• Round 16 of Allianz PWR saw wins by Bristol, Saracens and Gloucester-Hartpury as teams prepare for the semifinals on June 9 and Final on June 22 [link]
• The Bull Daisies lead South Africa’s Premier Division with five perfect bonus point wins. Boland Dames are in second, DHL Western Province third, and Border Ladies fourth [link]
• Round 4 of USA’s WPL saw wins by Life West, New York and CO Gray Wolves [link]

Women’s Rugby Rundown Features

• Continuing our “Pioneers of the Pitch” series, we spotlight Megan Neyen—a force on both the rugby field & in the Navy [link]
• Dr ‘Unaloto Sili using Capgemini Women in Rugby Leadership Programme scholarship to help drive change in Tonga [link]
• USRF announced their 2024 Hall of Fame Inductees and Special Award Recipients [link]
• Leicester Tigers’ dancer-turned-back Francesca McGhie has taken the Allianz PWR by storm [link]
• Boom NSW teen Caitlyn Halse creates Australian rugby history as youngest Test player [link]
• Chelsea Gillespie keen to write new chapter on refereeing return [link]
• Brigitte Jugla outlines a long-term strategic framework for women’s rugby in France from 2023 to 2033, focusing on high performance, regional development, and increased feminization at all levels [link]

Women’s Rugby Rundown Media

• Tyson Beukeboom became the most capped women’s rugby play in Canada’s history over the weekend [link]
• In the latest episode of Our Game Makers, Canada’s Sophie de Goede discusses following in her mother Stephanie White’s footsteps [link]
• The 2024 Bingham Cup is about to get started in Rome, Italy [link]
• “We are the last team to go pro,” Ruby Tui openly discusses how the Black Ferns are the only non-professional team in New Zealand Rugby [link]
• The Red Rose scrum halves were joined by Ben Youngs and Ella Wyrwas to exchange ideas [link]

Rugby Jobs

• Rugby Canada is looking for a marketing & social media content coordinator [link]
• Scottish Rugby is searching for a Lead Account Manager [link] and a Head of Partnerships [link]