Ilona Maher Dances to DWTS Finale, World Rugby Awards, Mexico & Jamaica Qualify for Challenger Series | WRR 181

Women’s Rugby 7s News

International

• Mexico edged Jamaica 19-12 to win RAN 7s, with both teams securing spots in the 2025 World Rugby Challenger Series after a challenging weekend of rain and muddy fields [link]
• The HSBC SVNS Series kicks off in Dubai this weekend, with China women joining the competition, Australia defending their League title, and the Black Ferns building on their Olympic gold success [link]
• The 2024 World Rugby Awards celebrated women’s achievements in 7s [link]:
  • World Rugby Women’s 7s Player of the Year: Maddison Levi (Australia)
  • World Rugby Women’s 7s Dream Team of the Year:
    • Olivia Apps (Canada)
    • Michaela Blyde (New Zealand)
    • Kristi Kirshe (USA)
    • Maddison Levi (Australia)
    • Ilona Maher (USA)
    • Jorja Miller (New Zealand)
    • Séraphine Okemba (France)
• Oceania Rugby has announced the Oceania 7s schedule, where the top two women’s teams, excluding Fiji already on the HSBC SVNS, will qualify for the World Rugby Challenger Series [link]
  • The women’s division features nine teams, with newcomers Niue and Kiribati adding fresh energy as top-seeded Fijiana 7s aim to defend their dominance, leaving the path to glory wide open for challengers
• Alan Bersten and Ilona Maher, one of five pairs in the DWTS Season 33 finale, have formed a standout partnership, with Bersten calling Maher “exactly what this show is all about” as they vie for the Mirror Ball trophy [link]

Women’s Rugby XVs News

International

• The 2024 World Rugby Awards celebrated women’s achievements in XVs [link]
  • World Rugby Women’s XVs Player of the Year: Ellie Kildunne (England)
  • World Rugby Women’s XVs Breakthrough Player of the Year: Erin King (Ireland)
  • World Rugby Women’s XVs Dream Team of the Year
    • Hope Rogers (USA)
    • Georgia Ponsonby (New Zealand)
    • Maud Muir (England)
    • Zoe Aldcroft (England)
    • Laetitia Royer (Canada)
    • Aoife Wafer (Ireland)
    • Sophie de Goede (Canada)
    • Alex Matthews (England)
    • Pauline Bourdon Sansus (France)
    • Holly Aitchison (England)
    • Katelyn Vahaakolo (New Zealand)
    • Alex Tessier (Canada)
    • Sylvia Brunt (New Zealand)
    • Abby Dow (England)
    • Ellie Kildunne (England)
  • International Rugby Players Women’s Try of the Year: Marine Ménager (France)
  • International Rugby Players Special Merit Award: Vickii Cornborough (England)
• Celtic Challenge Fixtures Confirmed for the 2024/25 Season [link]
• Netherlands will take on Brazil in a test match on November 28, with a second clash set for December 5 [link]

Premier & Club

• After four rounds of the BC Premier, Vancouver stays on top with a win over Burnaby Lake, while Westshore holds second after fending off Seattle [link]
• In Round 7 of the Energia AIL, undefeated leaders Railway Union, along with Blackrock College and Old Belvedere, all secured bonus-point wins, contributing to a total of 26 tries scored across the weekend [link]
• After six rounds of Elite 1, unbeaten Bordeaux stays atop the table, while Blagnac, Toulouse, and ASM Romagnat solidify the next three spots in a tight mid-table race with plenty of rugby left to play [link]
• In Round 7 of the PWR, unbeaten Exeter went eight points clear with a hard-fought win over Sale, Harlequins edged Saracens in a one-point thriller to move second, Bristol climbed to fourth with a dominant display against Trailfinders, and Loughborough claimed a derby victory over Leicester [link]
• After four rounds of the Netherlands Premier, unbeaten AAC tops the table with RUS close behind, while Waterland, BRC, and Delft battle in the middle ahead of the AAC vs. RUS top-of-the-table clash on December 8 [link]
• The Kenya Cup kicked off last weekend with Mwamba crushing NYS Ladies 91-0, while Rongo and Impala claimed wins by forfeit [link]
• On the first day of the Rugby Tens Championship, the Serengeti Elephants lead despite a loss to the Balkans Honey Badgers in the final match, while Cape Town Wild Dogs sit third and San Clemente Rhinos fourth [link]
  • The Championship continues Wednesday with Mixed Play and wraps up Saturday, awarding over $1 million in combined prizes
• In US College Rugby, NIRA had their Championships and declared winners:
  • D1: Harvard over Dartmouth 19-12
  • D2: AIC over Davenport 20-15
• The 2025 Sky Super Rugby Aupiki season kicks off on March 1 and will feature the inaugural Women’s Super Rugby Champions Final, where the Aupiki and Super W champions will face off for the first time, marking a historic step in aligning the competitions [link]

Women’s Rugby Features

• Ellie Kildunne: ‘Women’s rugby is on the rise. The level has really gone up’ [link]
• Women’s Elite Rugby League announces formation of new medical advisory board and partnership with Lumin Sports [link]
• We added a Women’s Rugby Starter Pack on Bluesky for those that are migrating [link]
• Ano Kuwai, the first person in rugby history to compete in the Olympics as both a player and referee, has made history again as the first woman appointed as a panel referee for Japan Rugby League One [link]
• Rugged Rugby: Conquer or Die’ Premieres December 10 on Netflix [link]
  • Korean based show but we aren’t sure if it will be available in other countries
• From Rugby to Rugbee: Maddie Miller’s Creative Impact [link]
• Scottish Rugby held a charity collection in aid of Siobhan’s Legacy of Love at the Scotland v Australia match on Sunday [link]
• Up-and-coming Scottish stars relish Lions opportunity [link]
• With women’s sport on the rise, the ‘anti-feminist backlash’ is under way [link]
• Triple threat Alev Kelter on Loughborough Lightning and her ice hockey background [link]

Women’s Rugby Media

• Arnold Clark Premiership Women’s Try of the Month for October [link]
• WRRHighlights: Dartmouth’s Offloads, Army’s Maul, & Mt. St. Mary’s Killer Step [link]
• The Womens Rugby Show: The PWR train rolls into town once again this weekend after a week off and we are bringing you a bumper episode where we speak to six of the eight teams in action [link]
• The Good, The Scaz And The Rugby: Olympic Silver Medalist and Canadian Superstar Alysha Corrigan [link]
• The Power Pod: As the PWR returns from a week’s break, Philippa Tuttiett and Nick Heath are back to look ahead to Round 7 [link]
• LTW Fancast: After a PWR-wide week off, Jess and Jacob are back to get very giddy about Derby Day in a bumper episode featuring not one but two guests, including a welcome return to an old friend of the pod, Elis Martin who is now with Loughborough, and a first ever interview of our American superstar prop Keia Mae Sagapolu Sanele [link]

Women’s Rugby Rundown Jobs

• San Diego Legion Head Physiotherapist and Medical Director [link]
• University of New Haven Graduate Assistant wanted [link]
• Harlequins are looking for a Women’s Communication Lead, First Team Physiotherapist, IT Service Engineer and Rugby Development Officer [link]
• Scottish Rugby GW Lead Communications and External Affairs Manager [link]
• Hong Kong Rugby is searching for a General Manager, Events, District Development Manager and a Regional Hub Manager [link]