Kenya’s Challenger Crown, Spain Wins 8th Euro Title, W6N Grand Slam Race | WRR 196

Women’s Rugby 7s News

International

Women’s Rugby XVs News

International

• Round 3 of Guinness Women’s Six Nation:
  • Wales held tight through the first half in Brive, but France found another gear after the break — running in 42 points to stay unbeaten and on course for a Super Saturday Grand Slam clash with England [link]
  • Ireland led for much of the first half in front of a record home crowd, but England’s second-half surge — powered by seven tries and scrum dominance — sealed a 49-5 win to keep their Grand Slam hopes alive [link]
  • Italy held off a late Scottish surge to earn their first win of their campaign, with a Muzzo brace and a bonus-point clincher sealing a 25-17 victory in Edinburgh [link]
• Spain have officially defended their Rugby Europe Championship title, going unbeaten with wins over Portugal, Sweden, and the Netherlands — claiming their eighth consecutive championship — while the final match between Sweden and the Netherlands will decide who finishes second in the standings [link]
• Uganda and Zimbabwe opened the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup Division 1 with strong wins over Tunisia (27–10) and Côte d’Ivoire (46–8), as all four teams battle to replace Cameroon—who finished last in the 2024 Kenya Cup—for the final spot in the 2025 Africa Cup [link]
• Why world number two side Canada are fundraising for RWC 2025 [link]
• Japan has named its squad for the Sakura Fifteen’s U.S. tour from April 12–28, which includes a test match against the USA on April 26 at Wallis Annenberg Stadium in Los Angeles [link]
• Scotland will face Ireland in a Summer Test on August 2 at Virgin Media Park in Cork as part of their final build-up to the 2025 Rugby World Cup, renewing a rivalry set to play out first in the final round of this year’s Six Nations [link]
• Canada will face Ireland on August 9 in Belfast for their final test ahead of the 2025 Rugby World Cup, adding to a packed calendar that includes the Pacific Four Series and July tests in South Africa [link]
• Ireland will host Canada on August 9 at Kingspan Stadium in Belfast for their final test before the 2025 Rugby World Cup, a key warm-up against the world’s No. 2 ranked team following their last meeting in WXV 1, where Canada won 21–8 [link]
• The WRU unveiled more details of its ‘One Wales’ strategy this week, with promises to grow the women and girls’ game, invest in talent pathways, and build a stronger domestic league—but real change will depend on action, not just plans [link]
• Rugby Australia has locked in a major broadcast extension with Nine through 2030, a deal reportedly worth up to A$240 million that secures coverage of men’s and women’s national teams, Super Rugby, and both upcoming World Cups on home soil [link]
• Up next: Super Rugby Championship between the Super W and Aupiki champs, RWC warmups, W6N, Kenya Cup, and the Energia AIL Final [link]

Premier & Club

• The NSW Waratahs cruised to their sixth Super W title with a dominant 43-21 win over Queensland, staying unbeaten against Aussie opposition as Desiree Miller starred in front of Wallaroos selectors [link]
• The Blues are back-to-back Super Rugby Aupiki champs after a thrilling 26-19 win over Matatū at Eden Park [link]
• The NSW Waratahs and Blues now shift focus to Thursday’s showdown in the first-ever Super Rugby Women’s Championship, watch on StanSport [link]
• Denver Onyx continued their dominant run with a commanding 76–7 victory over Chicago Tempest, while Bay Breakers secured a 39–19 win against New York Exiles. Boston and Denver now sit atop the standings, both with 3–0 records while the Breakers broke into 3rd [link]
• We’ll have the full lineup for the D1 and D2 Super Regionals, the D3 Atlantic Super Regional, and the D3 Champions from True South and Red River by the end of this week [link]
• Railway Union and UL Bohemian are headed back to the Aviva for the Championships on April 27, after winning their Energia AIL semi-finals—Railway outpaced Old Belvedere 37–24, while UL Bohs edged Blackrock College 15–12 in a gritty clash in Annacotty [link]
• Seattle has withdrawn from the BC Premier Playoffs, pushing Burnaby Lake into the #4 seed and advancing the competition straight to the semifinals on April 26 and Final on May 3 [link]
  • SF1: #1 UBC Thunderbirds vs. #4 Burnaby Lake
  • SF2: #2 Westshore vs. #3 Castaway Wanderers
• Round 1 of Fiji’s Na Soko kicked off with a hard-fought 5–5 draw between Kaunitoni and Takia in rainy Sigatoka, followed by Bilibili’s commanding 32–14 win over Camakau to close out the day at Lawaqa Park [link]
• Mwamba will host the Kenya Cup Finals on April 26 and face Impala in the women’s final [link]

Women’s Rugby Features

• Defender deepens long-standing rugby commitment with Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 partnership [link]
• Ffion Lewis has stepped away from the WRU program to protect her mental health after learning her contract won’t be renewed, hinting that her time in a Wales jersey may be over—but made clear she’s not retiring and still has more to give to the game [link]
• After four seasons leading Bristol to consistent PWR playoff runs, Dave Ward is set to return to the men’s game as head coach of Ampthill in the revamped Championship, though earlier reports had linked him with a role at Worcester Warriors Women [link]
• Alia Bitonci has been ticking off ambitions in what is already a memorable year, and she is aiming to have a few more ticked off over the next few months [link]
• There were smiles all around for the Springbok Women after a productive hit-out with their French counterparts on Tuesday afternoon in Marcoussis, and according to assistant coach Laurian Johannes-Haupt the squad will benefit greatly from the training session heading towards the Rugby World Cup in August [link]
• By the time Sarah Bern steps into a scrum, she does so as a tactician disguised in the theatre of collision [link]
• Tackling fires and rugby players – Scoble is living the dream [link]
• Lowering tackle height in rugby ‘reduces rate of head collisions’ [link]
• Salvin takes interim charge of Exeter women [link]

Women’s Rugby Media

• Rugby Africa’s ‘Her Strength, Her Impact, Our Dream Campaign’ aims to inspire and celebrate leaders who are growing the women’s game ahead of the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup [link]
• Full Credit: The Aussie Connection
• Challenging the Game: Designing female rugby boots
• The Good, The Scaz & The Rugby: The Green Wave: In Camp with Ireland
• Banana and Bear’s Rugby Pod: At Your Service

Women’s Rugby Rundown Jobs

• PWR Non-Executive Director [link]