USA Rugby Lawsuit, Croatia, Canada, and Melina Win, Wales Scrutinized, and World Rugby Awards | WRR 180

Women’s Rugby 7s News

International

• 7s Player of the Year and Dream Team of the Year Nominees revealed for World Rugby Awards 2024 [link]
  • World Rugby Women’s Sevens Player of the Year in partnership with HSBC
    • Michaela Blyde (NZL)
    • Maddison Levi (AUS)
    • Jorja Miller (NZL)
  • World Rugby Women’s 7s Dream Team of the Year to be announced on November 24
• Emirates Match Official panels confirmed for HSBC SVNS 2025 and World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger 2025 [link]
• The Royal Spanish Rugby Federation (RFER) has confirmed that Madrid will not host an HSBC SVNS venue for the 2024-25 season due to the lack of resources previously provided by Madrid City Council, but stated their commitment to working with World Rugby to bring the series back for 2025-26 while pursuing top-level international events and strengthening bids for the 2035 and 2037 Rugby World Cups [link]
• Twelve women’s teams have already secured spots in the 2025 Sevens Challenger Series qualifiers—dates and details still pending from World Rugby—as they vie for promotion to the elite SVNS competition [link]
• Ilona Maher reflects on scoring her first 10 during DWTS’ 500th episode and shares how her determination, partnership with Alan Bersten, and joyful energy are propelling her toward the semi-finals [link]
• RAN 7s begins November 22 in Trinidad where the top team from the women and men will qualify for the World Rugby Sevens Challenger [link]
• The HSBC SVNS Series kicks off in Dubai on November 30, welcoming China women to the competition as Australia defends their title and the Black Ferns aim to build on their Olympic gold [link]

Domestic

• Canada, the 2024 Silver Medalists from the Paris Olympics, dominated the PR 7s All Stars women’s bracket yesterday, defeating both the USA, who secured Bronze in Paris, and the All Stars to claim the top spot [link]
• Melina secured the Brazil Super Sevens title with a dominant 27-5 win over Delta in Guarulhos, finishing nearly perfect across three stops, with Niterói and Delta placing second and third [link]

Women’s Rugby XVs News

International

• Croatia repeat win over beat Bulgaria 17-10 [link]
• Wales Rugby issues continue:
  • Wales problems go ‘much higher up the chain’ than Cunningham [link]
  • Welsh Rugby sponsor ‘very concerned’ about sexism allegations [link]
• Ireland and Wales announced their coaching staffs for the Celtic Challenge:
  • Former International Trio Join Wolfhounds & Clovers Coaching Tickets For Celtic Challenge [link]
  • Brython Thunder and Gwalia Lightning coaches named for Celtic Challenge [link]
• XVs Breakout Player of the Year, Player of the Year, Try of the Year and Dream Team of the Year Nominees revealed for World Rugby Awards 2024 [link]
  • World Rugby Women’s XVs Breakthrough Player of the Year
    • Caitlyn Halse (AUS)
    • Maddie Feaunati (ENG)
    • Erin King (IRE)
    • Hannah King (NZL)
  • World Rugby Women’s XVs Player of the Year
    • Pauline Bourdon Sansus (FRA)
    • Ellie Kildunne (ENG)
    • Alex Matthews (ENG)
    • Alex Tessier (CAN)
  • International Rugby Players Women’s XVs Try of the Year
    • Alyssa D’Incà (Italy v Scotland, Women’s Six
    • Nations, 20 April)
    • Georgia Ponsonby (New Zealand v Australia, Pacific Four Series, 25 May)
    • Maya Stewart (Australia v Wales, WXV, 28 September)
    • Marine Ménager (France v Canada, WXV, 29 September)
  • World Rugby Women’s XVs Dream Team of the Year to be announced on November 24
• Don’t miss the Rugby Tens Championship as the series heats up on Nov 23, 27, and 30 at The Oaks International Grand Prix in San Juan Capistrano—watch live at TV.RUGBYTENS.COM or The Rugby Network! [link]
• Netherlands will face off against Brazil in their first match of two on November 28  [link]

Premier & Club

• National Collegiate Rugby issues statement to support referee community in lawsuit against USA Rugby, with Justin Hale named as one of the referees involved [link]
  • Read Justin Hale’s full complaint [link]
  • YSC has reached out to USA Rugby and Hale for comment and will have an article up soon on this topic.
• Deb Henretta, former Procter & Gamble executive and angel investor, backs Women’s Elite Rugby (WER), citing the growing momentum of women’s sports and aiming to build a sustainable league ahead of the 2028 Olympics and 2033 Rugby World Cup in the USA [link]
• USA Club Women’s Rugby standings, updated on November 13, highlight Metropolis and Grand Rapids as D1 and D2 Midwest Champions, key shifts like Patriots overtaking Omaha in D2, and D3 finals set for NERFU after Portland and Amoskeag’s semifinal victories [link]
• With Corstorphine securing the top spot in the Arnold Clark Premiership, the race for second sees Watsonian holding a 4-point lead with two fixtures left, but Stirling County could overtake them by securing bonus-point wins and relying on Watsonian dropping points [link]
• Vancouver jumped to first after defeating Westshore, while Castaway topped Seattle in the BC Premier [link]
• Bonus-point road victories were the trend in Round 6 of the Energia AIL, with highlights including Suttonians’ dominant win over rivals Tullow while Railway Union remains undefeated and continues to lead the league [link]
• After five rounds, Bordeaux remains undefeated and leads the Elite 1 after a 33-20 win over Toulouse, while second-place Blagnac beat AC Bobigny 33-10, and third-place ASM Romagnat topped FC Grenoble 32-8 [link]
• Boitsfort leads Belgium’s D1 undefeated after six rounds, with Gent also unbeaten and just two points behind, while five clubs battle for position in a tightly contested mid-table [link]
• Exeter remains undefeated and leads the PWR with 28 points after six rounds, followed by Gloucester-Hartpury six points back, Harlequins a point behind them, and Saracens another point back to complete the top four [link]
• Societe Generale Valley remains unbeaten and leads the Nan Fung Group | AIRSIDE Premiership with 19 points, followed by HKFC Natixis Ice and Gai Wu Falcons battling for second, while Kroll USRC Tigers sit solidly in fourth after four rounds [link]
• El Salvador remains unbeaten and leads the Iberdrola with 15 points after a dominant 42-3 win over Social Energy AVRFCB, while Majadahonda sits second following a 39-19 comeback against Simón Verde Magnolia Cocos, and Cisneros climbed to third with a 17-5 victory over CRAT [link]
• Valsugana leads the Elite Serie A after a dominant 50-17 win over Benetton, with Colorno securing a massive 62-5 away victory over Volvera, while Villorba and Milano earned home wins in Round 3 [link]
• AAC leads the Netherlands Premier League undefeated, with RUS also unbeaten but two points back, while Waterland sits on 11 points, closely followed by Delft and BRC with 10 each [link]
• We’ve seen some fixtures for the Kenya Cup but not the entire schedule from the Union? [link]

Women’s Rugby Features

• Dual-code star Fran Goldthorp is relishing her time back in the world of rugby union after a whirlwind few years jet-setting the globe [link]
• Rugby Without Borders: Olivia Bernadel-Huey’s Adventures on the Pitch [link]
• A tattoo artist and Sale Sharks prop – How Amber Schonert is Powered Differently [link]
• Former Scotland front-rower Lindsey Smith has been appointed as Head Coach of Glasgow Warriors for the upcoming Celtic Challenge, as preparations continue for the club’s return to action [link]
• Changing the Game for Young Girls with Girls Rugby, Inc. [link]
• Poignant moment for RAF and Harlequins’ Orla Proctor [link]
• Cassidy Bargell: ‘Representing people with an ostomy is important’ [link]
• Centre Sarah McKenna explained that she is proud of the effort shown by the whole squad during the first block of PWR fixtures, as she reflected on a tough opening period of games [link]
• Scotland women and the 14 month journey – Emma Wassell: Second-row keen to close “crazy old chapter” and “rest, recover and heal” [link]
• Inaugural Royal London Lions Women Engagement Day [link]
• Claire Thomas gives a few learnings from this opening block of PWR fixtures [link]
• Julia Schell’s journey from ice hockey to Trailfinders in the PWR [link]

Women’s Rugby Media

• WRR Highlights: Navy’s flat line, Harvard’s delayed pass, Texas’ dummy and fend, and Dartmouth’s 2v1s shine [link]
• The Good, The Scaz And The Rugby: Aimee Barrett-Theron and the girls discuss officiating on the world stage, all things South Africa and even more chinooos [link]
• Back The Girls: What’s next for the WRU? [link]
• The Scrum of the Earth: David sits down with Alice Soper to catch up on all things rugby [link]
• 10 questions for Canada’s Fancy Bermudez [link]

Women’s Rugby Rundown Jobs

• USA Rugby Senior Manager of National Team Communications [link]
• Head of Female Rugby at NSW [link]
• Rugby Canada is looking for a Director of Events, Manage or Training & Education and a Senior Finance Manager [link]
• Junior Academy Physiotherapist for Scotland Rugby [link]