Ilona Maher Takes Over the Internet (again) and WXV Warmup Matches Set for This Weekend | WRR 169

Women’s Rugby 7s News

International

• Olympic star Ilona Maher took over the internet again when it was revealed that she was the Sports Illustrated swimsuit model for September [link]
• The Asia Sevens Series returns this weekend with eight women’s teams competing for the title, and with China and Japan already on the HSBC SVNS, it’s a crucial race for a third team to secure a Challenger Series spot; see our Fixtures & Results page for more [link]
• Robbie Fergusson, who retired from Team GB 7s following the Olympic Repechage in June, has joined the Hong Kong 7s coaching team ahead of the 2024/25 season [link]

Domestic

• In tough conditions, ASM Romagnat claimed victory at the Pau stage of the Super Sevens competition in France by defeating Bobigny in the final, setting up a showdown in Paris this February where the top teams from each group—ASM Romagnat, AC Bobigny 93, Lyon OU, and Stade Rennais—will compete for the ultimate title [link]
• The next generation of Australian women’s Sevens talent is set to shine—catch every match live on rugby.com.au/videos starting October 5. [link]

Women’s Rugby XVs News

International

• In upcoming Fixtures & Results, there are 3 matches this weekend, learn more by viewing our Fixtures and Results page [link]:
  • Sep 6
    • Scotland vs Wales, watch on BBC iPlayer locally or RugbyPassTV
  • Sep 7
    • Barbarians vs South Africa, broadcast details haven’t been announced yet
    • England vs France, watch on BBC One locally or RugbyPassTV
• We’re especially excited for the #1 vs. #4 matchup between England and France, with the Red Roses last facing Les Bleues in a Six Nations Grand Slam decider in Bordeaux, where they triumphed 42-21, scoring six tries, including two from Alex Matthews [link]
  • After a training camp in Capbreton, the French management revealed the list of players selected to face England in a preparation match and the WXV [link]
  • 36 Red Roses assembled at Hazelwood as they prepare for their first September international this Saturday against France [link]
• Seven stars of women’s rugby are set to make their final international appearance for Barbarian F.C. when the world-famous invitational club take on Springbok Women on Saturday 7 September at Cape Town’s DHL Stadium [link]
• 46 players have assembled for South Africa as they prepare to face the Barbarians this weekend and for the WXV [link]
• Scotland Women Head Coach Bryan Easson has selected his 30-player squad for their Autumn Test and for WXV 2 [link]
  • Scotland also announced the return of David Nucifora, whose legacy in women’s rugby, particularly in Ireland, remains questionable, as his tenure saw significant criticism, including a letter from 62 former and current Irish players expressing no confidence in the union, which led to the IRFU accepting 30 recommendations from an independent review and committing €1 million in additional investment to rebuild the women’s game [link]
  • Vodafone announced a new multi-year partnership with Scotland, becoming a Principal Partner and back-of-shirt sponsor for the Men’s and Women’s teams, while also supporting the growth of the women’s game through the Scottish Rugby Women’s Pathway [link]
    • Both Wales and Fijiana are also sponsored by Vodafone, as part of its broader commitment to growing the women’s game.
• ‘We want to win WXV 2’: Yapp sets out ambitions as Wallaroos prepare for tour [link]
  • The Wallaroos celebrated 30 years since their first Test match in 1994, when they faced the Black Ferns at North Sydney Oval, with Karla Clay holding the honor of Wallaroos cap number one, presented retrospectively in 2008 [link]
• Ireland’s Head Coach Scott Bemand named a 35-player squad, ahead of next month’s Test match against Australia in Belfast and the WXV1 campaign in Vancouver [link]
  • Earlier in the week, Ireland announced Central Contracts for 37 players across the Women’s High Performance Programme, as the Ireland Women’s XVs and Sevens squads build towards the 2024/25 season [link]
• Fiji announced their traveling squad for two WXV warmup matches—Sept 15 against Scotland and Sept 19 against the Netherlands [link]
• Spain announced a WXV warmup against South Africa on September 19, with the Womenboks having beaten Las Leonas in their last four consecutive matches [link]
• Italy’s National Women’s Team wrapped up their third summer camp on August 25 in L’Aquila, with Coach Raineri emphasizing the hard work done to prepare for Japan on September 14 and the WXV [link]
• PEARLS (Japan) has officially signed contracts with Portia Woodman-Wickliffe as a player and Renee Woodman-Wickliffe as an assistant coach [link]

Premier & Club

• Two-try center Leah Tarpey starred as three unanswered second-half tries secured Leinster a dominant 33-14 final win over Munster, earning them back-to-back Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship titles [link]
• The final WPL standings are in, and the WER Legacy Cup semifinals are set for September 7—catch all the action live on RugbyPassTV [link]
  • All Blues (#1) vs Life West (#4)
  • New York (#2) vs CO Gray Wolves (#3)
• In an unexpected move, Trailfinders Women announced they had mutually parted ways with Director of Women’s Rugby Giselle Mather ahead of the 2024/25 season, swiftly appointing Barney Maddison—who has no head coach experience—as her replacement, a decision that raised concerns about the loss of yet another highly qualified female coach in the competition [link] [link]
  • The Premiership had 5 female Head Coaches last year and is down to 2 now, one year ahead of the 2025 Rugby World Cup [link]
  • Many have noted that as coaching women’s sports becomes more trendy, suddenly there aren’t enough women deemed ‘qualified’ to fill these full-time roles [link]
• As Round 4 of the Dr. Farah Palmer Cup hit the halfway point, the Premiership remained wide open with Waikato defeating Auckland, Bay of Plenty powering past Hawke’s Bay, and unbeaten Counties Manukau Heat overcoming a determined Northland side to sit at the top of the table [link]
• Round 2 of the Arnold Clark Premiership in Scotland saw wins by Stirling County, Corstorphine, Garioch, and Hillhead Jordanhill, with Hillhead Jordanhill leading on point differential [link]
  • A groundbreaking deal between Scottish Rugby and BBC ALBA will see 11 Arnold Clark Premierships matches, including both men’s and women’s finals, broadcast live this season [link]

Women’s Rugby Features

• As the French Women’s 7s team returns to the National Rugby Center on Monday, Romain Huet, a seasoned expert in the women’s sector of French Rugby, will debut as head coach, succeeding David Courteix after 14 years [link]
• Sarah Adam became the first woman to compete at the #Paralympics for wheelchair rugby powerhouse USA [link]
• Ilona Maher, US rugby and social media star, endorses Kamala Harris [link]
• We’re highlighting the stars of the WER Legacy Cup (WPL) in our Pioneer of the Pitch Series ahead of the semifinals on September 7 and the finals on September 14. [link]
  • Sydney Martichuski: Discovering Rugby and Thriving in the WPL [link]
  • Eve Mango: From College Athlete to Pro Rugby Prospect [link]
  • Running the Distance: Lauren Trout’s Path from Cross Country to Rugby [link]
  • Balancing Life, Family, and Rugby: The Story of Kaelene Bavery-Lundstrum [link]
  • From Playing to Officiating: Amanda Cox’s Transformation as an Athlete [link]
  • Balancing Acts: The Dual Life of Jade Greenfield, Rugby Athlete and Nurse [link]
• A fifth World Cup would be ‘very cool’ – Emily Scarratt [link]
• Kelly Brazier’s Not Done Yet [link]
• Talking points from Scotland squad for WXV 2 title defence [link]
• Ireland co-captain Sam Monaghan has been ruled out of the upcoming Test against Australia in September and October’s WXV1 campaign [link]
• The RFU Rose Awards 2023/24 recognized two outstanding rugby servants, including Fiona Stockley, a true ambassador of the game with nearly 30 years of involvement as a player and administrator [link]
• Emma’s Orr-some rise from Hartree Mill to Hive is big news for Biggar RFC [link]
• Saracens Women are delighted to confirm the arrival of Canadian international and Olympic silver medallist Fancy Bermudez [link]
• Evie Gallagher reveals World Cup aim after injury heartache [link]
• Scotland women and the 14 month journey – the build up: Get to know the four uncapped players selected for the next phase heading into WXV 2 [link]

Women’s Rugby Media

• We dropped two #WRRHighlight clips this week, check them out on Youtube [link]
• Hundreds of former rugby players say head injuries have left them suffering from long-term brain conditions such as dementia. Has the sport done enough to protect the players? [link]
• Aoife Wafer on being crowned back to back Interprovincial Champions with Leinster and how she is looking forward to getting back into International camp on Monday [link]
• Episode 9 of JournoCast the guest was Jess Hayden discussing her new book, behind the scenes with the Red Roses, and more [link]

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