Final WXV Warm-up Matches and Hong Kong & Thailand Chase Challenger Spot | WRR 172

Women’s Rugby 7s News

International

• China leads the Asia 7s Series with Japan in second, both already on the HSBC SVNS Series, but the real fight is for third between Hong Kong and Thailand, with an HSBC Challenger spot on the line at the final stop in Thailand on Nov 19-20 [link]
• Emirates has committed to Asia Rugby as the title sponsor for the 7s and XVs Series, as well as the Asia Rugby Championships [link]
• The Sudamerica 7s, held in Lima on October 26-27, will feature eight men’s and women’s teams, offering two spots for the 2025 World Rugby Challenger Series [link]
  • Teams include Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Colombia, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuala
  • Brazil is already on the HSBC SVNS Series so we will be looking at the second place team for a spot on the Challenger Series

Women’s Rugby XVs News

International

• Results from last week:
  • Wales earned their first-ever win over the Wallaroos, 31-24, moving up to 9th in the rankings and pushing Italy down to 10th [link]
    • Referee Sara Cox officiated her 40th Test match at Newport’s Rodney Parade as Wales hosted Australia, joining Aimee Barrett-Theron as the only woman referees to reach this milestone [link]
    • Rugby Australia announced that CyberCX joins as the new cybersecurity partner of both the Wallaroos and Wallabies [link]
  • In a close match, Fiji fell to Netherlands 12-10, causing them to slip down to 15th [link]
  • Romania made a triumphant return to rugby after 16 years, defeating Bulgaria 66-12. They leaped from 44th to 40th, pushing down Brazil, Guyana, Senegal, and Uganda. Meanwhile, Bosnia & Herzegovina moved up to 50th, and India advanced to 51st [link]
    • Denmark and Norway are reviving their test squads after two decades, and there are now at least 16 European nations with active XVs programs outside the Six Nations, bringing the total to 22—more than ever before! [link]
  • South Africa powered past Spain 36-19, and Libbie Janse van Rensburg became the first Springbok Women’s player to score over 200 points [link]
  • The Kenya Lionesses secured a dominant 63-19 victory over Madagascar [link]
    • Concerns are growing over the rude awakening that WXV 3 may bring for Madagascar
• Head Coach Kevin Rouet has selected 30 players to represent Canada at WXV 1 in Vancouver this September and October, including 23 from the Pacific Four Series-winning squad and newcomers like Rori Wood, Caroline Crossley, and Asia Hogan-Rochester [link]
• Italy’s 30-player squad for WXV 2 in South Africa blends experienced talent with two debutants, as Coach Nanni Raineri builds a deeper roster despite key injuries ahead of matches against Scotland, Wales, and the hosts [link]
• Ireland’s 30-player squad, led by Coach Scott Bemand, is set for their WXV1 debut in Vancouver, facing New Zealand, Canada, and the USA, with four new caps included after their victory over Australia [link]
• Head coach Ioan Cunningham has named a 30-player Wales squad for WXV2 in South Africa, with Hannah Jones captaining the team as they face Australia, Italy, and Japan [link]
• ABC Sports Center & Scrum Queens highlight the growing number of South American players from Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina now playing XVs in Spain due to the slower development of the format in their home countries [link]
• In upcoming Fixtures & Results, the WXV begins this weekend with nine matches! [link]

Premier & Club

• Saracens secured another London derby win in the PWR Up Series, while Bristol Bears claimed their first victory of the season at home against Gloucester-Hartpury, and Leicester Tigers got their campaign started with a win over Loughborough Lightning [link]
• After 9 rounds of the Farah Palmer Cup, the semifinals are set with Counties Manukau Heat hosting Canterbury, and Waikato facing Auckland Storm in Hamilton after a thrilling final round with six lead changes [link]
• Corstorphine leads the Arnold Clark Premiership after 5 rounds with an undefeated record. The race for second is tight, with Hillhead Jordanhill and Stirling County tied at 16 points, Watsonian at 15, and Garioch holding fifth with 11 points [link]
• Llandaff North leads the Welsh Premiership after two rounds with a perfect, undefeated record. Seven Sisters, Bonymaen, Whitland, and Caernarfon follow closely with seven and five points each [link]
• In the opening weekend of Spain’s Queen’s Cup, CRAT edged Getxo 24-22, while Eibar defeated PRB Flor De Scotland UBU. The Queen’s Cup, inaugurated in 2023, increases competitiveness between Spain’s top-tier and second-tier teams during international windows, with group winners advancing to the semifinals. [link]
• Belgium’s Women’s Club Competition, featuring 9 teams, has completed two rounds of play, with Gent Rugby leading the pack with 10 points and an undefeated record [link]
• Looking ahead, several leagues are starting soon—check out our Fixtures & Results page for more info [link]:
  • Ireland’s Energia AIL kicks off next weekend, with 14-time defending champions UL Bohemians facing Blackrock College, along with four other matches [link]
    • Anyscor announced they are teaming up with Energia to bring live Energia AIL rugby scores each week [link]
  • Canada’s BC Premiership begins next week, with the defending champions Vancouver Thunderbirds fighting to return to the Championship [link]
  • France’s Elite 1 kicks off next week, with back-to-back champions Stade Bordelais set to defend their title [link]
• The 9th #MaryGrahamAllStars tournament hits Dallas–Fort Worth Dec 7-8 at the Mountain Creek Soccer Complex! [link]

Women’s Rugby Features

• Lisa Thomson reflects on her second Olympic Games in Paris earlier this Summer [link]
• Pionners of the Pitch Series [link]:
  • The Game Changer: Alex Pipkin’s Path from Harvard to Coaching [link]
  • Mia Taylor: From Swockey Nights to the Rugby Field [link]
• Thailand Rugby Union Women’s Sevens Head Coach Yohei Shinomiya – I Want The Thailand Women To Be The Top Team In Asia [link]
• Rugby Nederland is finally awarding caps to female national team players, recognizing their contributions since 1982, and moving forward, all new internationals will receive caps, marking a long-overdue step toward equality in Dutch rugby [link]
• Scotland women and the 14 month journey – fifth in the world: “It shows how much Wass means to everyone that we put in that performance for her versus Fiji” [link]
• Red Roses only satisfied as wins over France and New Zealand provide valuable lessons [link]
• The Welsh Rugby Union has introduced new ACL-focused injury prevention exercises, with head physiotherapist Jo Perkins offering insights into ACLs and their impact on rugby [link]
• Five key factors as Scotland go fifth in World Rugby rankings [link]
• Nicky Ponsford appointed World Rugby Director of High Performance
  [link]

Women’s Rugby Media

• Watch the highlights from Kenya’s win over Madagascar [link]
• Wales head coach Ioan Cunningham and captain Keira Bevan reflect on their monumental first-ever victory over Australia [link]
• Our latest #WRRHighlights the final two tries from the 2024 Legacy Cup Final! [link]
• US Rugby Happy Hour Podcast: USA Women and Sale Sharks prop, Catie Benson comes on to talk about her Eagles’ preps for the start of WXV1, Sale Sharks Women and playing against her own Eagles teammates in the PWR [link]
• Watch the latest episode of O2 Inside Line: All In, as Maddie Feaunati prepares to face old friends as the Red Roses take on the Black Ferns [link]
• Go behind the scenes in Scotland’s camp as the team picked up two wins in The Vodafone Series ahead of flying to South Africa [link]
• LTW Fancast: Leicester Tigers Women returned to action with 12 debutants showing promise despite a home loss to the Sharks, while excitement builds for WXV, a red-hot Scottish side, and the upcoming East Mids Derby against Loughborough Lightning at Franklin Gardens [link]
• Gwenllian and Alaw Pyrs could soon take the field together for Wales as sisters [link]

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